Freedom of the press, a freedom we could do without

[Redleg]

Both are reflections of the society they represent. Both are horrid. But in a democracy a free press must be at least 1% meaner than the government. If we're going to err, let's err on the side of expression, not discretion.

Its better to be accurate and forthcoming in your reporting then it is to be just expressing, unless of course one is writing an opinion piece then it must reflect the journalist's opinion.

The ability to express is important in journalism - that is what sells the papers, but that desire should not detract from the accuracy of the information.

Freedom and democracy is based upon information.

[Beirut]

Freedom and democracy is based upon information.

The quality of information is subjective at best. There is much information the government thinks you should not have, likewise there is much you think the government should not have. Information, it is said, is power.

The act of dissenting is often more important than the reason or logic behind the dissent. If we allow only reasonable dissent, then odds are it will be those we are dissenting against who will set the limit. On the other hand, dissent does have limits. Those limits must always be pushed as far as they can until the other side pushes back. It is through that battle that democracy evolves.

[Redleg]

The quality of information is subjective at best. There is much information the government thinks you should not have, likewise there is much you think the government should not have. Information, it is said, is power.

Information is indeed power - that is why the ethical journalist will at least attempt to give the most accurate and unbaised reporting that they can. If the journalist is writing an opinion piece I expect and enjoy reading their opinion. However if the journalist is reporting a story and is claiming that its an accurate report - I expect it to include as much information as the journalist can gather, for it to be organized into data that is confirmed, and what data is speculation or non-confirmed information.

This is how we as individual can determine how accurate the information is so we can make our objective opinion on the subject. Reporting of facts should not be tainted by the baised views of the opinion of the report without that reporting informing the readers of said baised.

The act of dissenting is often more important than the reason or logic behind the dissent. If we allow only reasonable dissent, then odds are it will be those we are dissenting against who will set the limit. On the other hand, dissent does have limits. Those limits must always be pushed as far as they can until the other side pushes back. It is through that battle that democracy evolves.

Dissent without valid reason is not dissent, its just mob reaction to foolish claims of foolish people, which foolish reports contribute to by feeding into the hysteria versus reporting the facts and the truth.

Your statement here contradicts itself to the point of having no meaning. Dissent should be based upon what actions the government has done or not done.

[Spetulhu]

Freedom and democracy is based upon information.

Didn't one of the founding fathers say democracy was based on an educated and informed population? The sad fact is that people can't be bothered. They'd rather go ooh over the latest scandalous bimbo than read something dry about every-day politics.

[Redleg]

Didn't one of the founding fathers say democracy was based on an educated and informed population? The sad fact is that people can't be bothered. They'd rather go ooh over the latest scandalous bimbo than read something dry about every-day politics.

Yes one of the founding fathers of the United States did indeed state that - I believe it was Thomas Jefferson if my memory serves me correctly. If people can not be bothered with informing themselves they get the government that they deserve and the press that they deserve also.

[Andres]

The sad fact is that people can't be bothered. They'd rather go ooh over the latest scandalous bimbo than read something dry about every-day politics.

Indeed.

While there are plenty of intresting news items in the own country as well as abroad, often more then 1/3 of our television news is spent on crap like "Paris Hilton showed her breast", "Wendy van Wanten found a new lover in our new popular television program", "Superstar I'm Not Interested is gay", "Blablabla won "Dancing on Ice" ", "Mister Who Cares??? won Big Brother", "Btw, Superstar I'm not interested is not gay, he's bi", ....



I'm waiting for the day televisions cost 1 € a piece. I would throw a few of them out of the window every day.

Unfortunately, since I'm no millionaire, I'm limited to throwing my socks at it to ventilate my anger. Tearing up a newspaper and kicking the shreds around the house is also great fun.