lpnmajor Loc: Arkansas

A free press is indeed vital, however, "free" does not mean free from accountability or responsibility. A reporter, editor, network or those that own them, cannot use the power of the press to exact revenge, or attempt to manipulate the public, and expect no consequences. What constitutes the press has gotten murky, where anyone with a camera tries to claim to be a member.

As with any institution, allowing self rule and self policing, inevitably leads to corruption and abuse. There HAS to be societal norms established in the form of laws, that direct and correct the conduct of these institutions. The press, Physicians, the US Congress, are examples of the error of self rule, where rogue members and corruption are protected by the institutions they represent, to the detriment of the public.

Rumor, innuendo, and speculation, have no place in the press, certainly no place in news reporting. These things are called " editorializing" for a reason, and should be relegated to the editorial pages/section, where it is clearly stated that "this is my opinion". Walter Cronkite was the first reporter to break this rule, when he began editorializing on the prime time news about the Vietnam war. People Nation wide trusted him, and he abused that trust by attempting to manipulate the public to his way of thinking, and this has become the norm - and should be a crime punishable by law.

The press is not our enemy, but we have enemies within the press, and since the press cannot govern itself, society must do so - for it's own survival. The other side of the coin is this; the Presidency is not authorized, nor should be allowed, to manipulate the press for it's own designs, and certain laws are necessary to protect the public from THIS nuisance as well.

Alicia Loc: NYC

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You do have the opportunity to either not listen or read them but they are free to write whatever they wish. Looks like you have been conned also by the orange horror who would like to do away with the Constitution. In addition, you would not have the right to post your thoughts on forums such as this. There are too many posters who suggest that anyone they disagree with leave this forum. If you are incapable of a decent argument, why don't "you" just take your leave.

Alicia Loc: NYC

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Have you forgotten abut libel laws? Everyone has the right to bring suit and leave it up to the judges to lower the boom or not.

Morgan

Yes the only problem is the abundance of biased opinionated information and less factual news. When intentional misinformation gets printed as it is the truth it hurts everyone, we become a distrustful society, which we're already well on the way to. What happened to the consequences of printing lies, what happened to the simple truth and integrity, is this our new reflection? We can put a stop to slander with a consequence, why aren't we is the question, why are we allowing this to go on when it wrecks such havoc between the people and continues to divide us. Where are just the facts allowing us the "freedom" to draw our own knowledgeable and true conclusions?

Morgan

You have some one sided perceptions there wolf, I didn't read it that way at all. I believe her points are well made, for all sides to stick to the facts and stop their bias slant to everything, wouldn't that be for the best interest to all of us?

Super Dave Loc: Realville, USA

Obama was an asshole and a real threat to a free press.

Trump is also an asshole, but he is not a threat to a free press,. He is just a threat to the MSM's ability to lie with impunity.

debeda

The press has gone from reporting all events, to only reporting events that fit a narrative, to blatantly making stuff up to FIT the narrative. There are few real journalists any more, just pundits and talking heads.

Randy131 Loc: Florida

I don't know if he is a moron or not, but where did you come up with only "One Bad Media outlet"? MSNBC is just as bad and guilty of making up "Fake News" as is CNN, and NBC, CBS, and ABC are not far behind either of those two.

Then there is the NYT and WP, who both have had to retract many "Fake News" stories lately, and the LA Times and Chicago tribune are just as bad as those two print medias.

How do we know we have a problem from all these news sources, your so called "FREE PRESS", because 'ALL' the 'MAJOR' stories that they report are by anonymous sources, making noone able to be held accountable and labeled a liar when their stories are proven to be false.

Where have all these anonymous sources come from lately, is there a school churning them out, so our "FREE PRESS" can have something to report, or are they really just the employees of the organizations that are reporting all these anonymous "Fake News" stories?

I've never before in my life seen as many anonymous sourced stories, as have been reported just since President Trump has been elected. Seems like there may be a connection here, do-ya-think?

In the 2016 elections we saw the logo "Love Trump's Hate", but in the coming 2018 midterm elections we're going to see a new logo of "Love the Liberals Hate, Resistance, & Obstructionism".

the waker Loc: 11th freest nation

What exactly is free about Corporate owned press?
You do realize who owns the media in this country right?
How many retractions does a "News outlet" have to make in a month for you guys to catch on?
People really should know when they're being used.

the waker Loc: 11th freest nation

Morgan

Obama was never a threat to free and bias press, clearly.

Trump is the perpetual liar, his lies are solidified as the press quotes him, and btw that is just what he wants. I have never witnessed such a destructive president is aiding and in the divisiveness of a country, as he incites his party against his opposing party in hateful rhetoric.

jimahrens Loc: California

It is a far cry from Freedom of the press to Responsibilty of the press.

vernon

A free press is great, but it should not misrepresent the news or leave out what is true just to push an ideology that is no more that the destruction
of our country.They have a editorial page for opinion .the first amendment doesn't give them the privilege to lie and omit facts in news reports.

vernon

You need to go get a mind enema you have been filled with communist bs and need a good cleaning out.

Super Dave Loc: Realville, USA

Listen to James Rosen talk about how the Obama's AG Eric Holder illegally used the 'Espionage Act' to gain access to his emails and intercept phone calls to him and his family. Ironically it was for Rosen reporting on North Korea's nuclear program.

http://video.foxnews.com/v/5348347976001/?#sp=show-clips


Trump hasn't done anything in the ball park compared to this.
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Here is a clip reporting about Obama freezing out Fox News and banning his admin from appearing on Fox, and comparing about Fox being the only news organization that wasn't up his ass.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nkw9rR5127k

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It's fair to say Trump has attacked the liberal media verbally just as bad as Obama attacked Fox, but it is ignorant to suggest that Trump is any where close to the threat that Obama was to a free press..