Media Bias

Speak truth to power

   We hear many complaints these days about media bias and "fake news," especially from politicians who are unhappy about critical reports on what they're saying and doing, as well as fact checking that points out false and misleading things they try to foist on the public.
   'Twas ever thus.
   Government leaders typically want -- and sometimes demand -- agreement on whatever issue they claim is relevant. Any disagreement, or any critical and negative report, is too often branded treason.
  But the country was founded on disagreement, and as Patrick Henry said, "If this be treason, let us make the most of it." At the time, he was commenting on the English king's objection to American requests for self determination.
   These days, much of what politicians say is false. Demonstrably and obviously false. Provably false. Counter to common sense and contrary to mountains of evidence.
   Yet some politicians attack such reports criticizing their talk and actions as fake, phony, dishonest, biased and many other things.
   Nevertheless, the news media dutifully report not only what the politicians claim, and the evidence that contradicts such claims, but they report the attacks as well.
   It would be easy enough, if news media were really biased, to ignore the denials, counter-claims and other nonsense the politicians perpetrate.
   But they don't, because the public has a right to know both sides -- what politicians claim as well as what is true. And as long as the First Amendment to the Constitution is in effect, that's what journalists will do. The danger lies in any attempt to repeal the First Amendment.
   
   One wonders why the new guy in the Oval Office focuses his attacks on the New York Times, the Washington Post, CNN and NBC, but not on other major daily newspapers, magazines and TV networks.
   Certainly he embraces programs on the Fox network, where its commentators are blatantly biased. Could it be because they are biased in his favor?
   "Speak truth to power" is a basic tenet of journalism in a free society. Since the president of the United States is arguably the most powerful individual in the world, it follows that the voices of truth be the loudest in the world.
   But if this be disallowed, the U.S. would no longer be a free society. If the First Amendment, with its guarantees of freedom of religion, free speech and a free press were to be repealed, that would be the first domino to fall in the collapse of a free society.