First Amendment: Freedom of the Press

Congress shall make no law… abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press..

Free Press - Foundation of a Strong Democracy

Thomas Jefferson (1787)…The basis of our government being the opinion of the people, the very first object should be to keep that right; and 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

What is the purpose of the Press?

Purpose of the Press:Anderson Cooper 360 -“We want to bring you information

accurately, fairly. And we want to hold the people in power accountable for their words and their actions.”

Purpose of the Press:New York Times - “All

the News That’s Fit to Print”

"Content of the highest quality and integrity: This is the basis for our reputation and the means by which we fulfill the public trust and our customers' expectations."

Limits on Free PressNational Security - ‘clear &

present danger’Obscenity - Miller TestDefamation - ‘Slander/Libel’Privacy - likeness, intrusion,

private facts, false lightSchool Publications -

Hazelwood

The Big 3 - Major News Services:

McClatchy GroupAssociated PressReuters

Making the News: Choices MadeThe Event:

Who, What, When, Where, HowSources of Information:

TrustworthinessReporter:

Journalistic EthicsEditor:

Fact Checks & Pressure

The Press Works Hard, But Aren’t Perfect!

For a Journalist or News Organization, Credibility is your #1 Commodity.

Competition, Faster News Cycles & Higher Expectations for Coverage -- Can lead to Errors …CBS - Pres Bush & GuardKatrina CoverageSyrian Migrants or Refugees??

Influences on News:News Cycles

Faster always better?Political Viewpoints

Is anyone Neutral?Consolidation vs.

FragmentationNews in the hands of a fewNews in the hands of many

Rupert Murdoch

The Biggest Influence:Market Driven Journalism -

AdvertisementsCirculation/Ratings‘If it bleeds, it leads’Sports/WeatherHuman InterestEntertaining versus ImportantSplashy versus SubstanceOnline vs. Print- who pays for news,

and what if print dies?

The Good News:Consumer Choice is King!

So choose thoughtfully… and the news will reflect what you want to see/hear/ read

Becoming Critical Consumers of News &

Information.. Ask the following questions as you

watch/read/listen to News..S ourceM otiveA uthorityR eviewT wo-source Test

Following News is like Eating your Vegetables… Not as fun as eating dessert.. But

Good for you & Good for this democracy