“…were it left to me to decide whether we should have a government without newspapers, or newspapers without a government, I should not hesitate a moment to prefer the latter.” -Thomas Jefferson
The purpose of the newspaper is to give people facts about events occurring around the world. Jefferson’s quote essentially means that the government should not play a role in influencing the media; that way, the public can keep the government in check by forming their own opinions based on factual reporting and verified sources. Jefferson emphasized the importance of newspapers because they ensured the public security against the power of the government through exposure of the truth.
Jefferson’s quote is still relevant today, even as our society is moving away from print media to social media. Social media websites are not strictly regulated by the government in most parts of the world. This allows for the expedient spread of information across the internet by the public as a whole, not just by journalists. This phenomenon is exactly what Jefferson meant by “newspaper without a government.” The near instant uploading of events onto social media immediately apprises the public of every single news story that is occurring, with major stories becoming viral in a matter of hours, as in the case of the Ferguson shooting. The Ferguson shooting is the perfect example of government vs. newspapers, with the police arresting journalists on the scene.
This situation exemplifies another one of Jefferson’s quotes, “It [the press] is…the first shut up by those who fear the investigation of their actions.” When the press is being suppressed, the public is being suppressed, and everybody’s rights are violated. This is why Jefferson stressed the freedom of the press and why it had to be included in the Bill of Rights for our protection and freedom.
Jefferson’s quote is still relevant today, even as our society is moving away from print media to social media. Social media websites are not strictly regulated by the government in most parts of the world. This allows for the expedient spread of information across the internet by the public as a whole, not just by journalists. This phenomenon is exactly what Jefferson meant by “newspaper without a government.” The near instant uploading of events onto social media immediately apprises the public of every single news story that is occurring, with major stories becoming viral in a matter of hours, as in the case of the Ferguson shooting. The Ferguson shooting is the perfect example of government vs. newspapers, with the police arresting journalists on the scene.
This situation exemplifies another one of Jefferson’s quotes, “It [the press] is…the first shut up by those who fear the investigation of their actions.” When the press is being suppressed, the public is being suppressed, and everybody’s rights are violated. This is why Jefferson stressed the freedom of the press and why it had to be included in the Bill of Rights for our protection and freedom.
Your Ferguson example really demonstrates how important the press has become in our society and how the suppression of the press negatively affects our lives.
ReplyDeleteI agree on eschwriting150 point. Ferguson for many reason shows how social media is taking over traditional news sources. But still 60% of the public watches Daily News to get news. I think it is important that the publics make use of both traditional and social news, with one goal, to get informed.
ReplyDeleteI love your arguments, and the example you gave is convincing too. I think the government should give more freedom to press.
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