So why is it wrong for the White House to pick and choose who they speak to? In recent weeks the White House and Obama in particular have made it very clear that they are choosing to speak to some news outlets rather than others.
They have chosen to leave FOX News out of many press junkets and other important press events. FOX News has taken this as an all-out war.
But what is the problem? Why not let the president choose who he wants to hear his speeches? Why not decide that some news stations will not be able to spin his word?
As a journalism student at an openly liberal school, I can see both sides of this issue. On one side, FOX News spins Obama's words and turns him into the bad guy every chance they get. I have an ingrained bias with FOX News and tend to shun then as many other liberal democrats do, but what about the journalistic consequences?
If the White House blocks this one station, who's to say they can't block others? Isn't the job of a news organization to be a watchdog? They are supposed to report and question all that comes from the White House and put the facts in the faces of the public.
From the beginning of my education we have been taught to get the facts, get to the bottom of complicated politics and decisions in order to educate the public. How is the public expected to be completely informed if all sides of the issue cannot be displayed?
Letting the government decide who will disseminate their policies and ideas gives the government all the power. Without the negative press, there is in effect no "watchdog". It gives the man in charge even more power.
As a journalism student, this is a scary time. If the White House succeeds in quieting one of the major news organizations, he succeeds in breaking the 1st Amendment. Free press.
This "war" could change the relationship between the press and the government for generations to come.
Regardless of my political leanings and my personal preferences, a threat of this kind to the journalistic process is a threat to the entire country and its democratic process.
Good post. And great questions.
ReplyDeleteAre their historical precdents for this situation? How have previous administrations dealt with these questions.
I think your post would be stronger if you provided examples of the spin to which you refer. One of the drawbacks to the television language is how general and superficial statements like these are (because of the time constraints and the visual constraints), but you are not bound by those constraints here. Just cite an obvious example or two to biolster your position.
On the design front, I'd reduce the presdiential seal just a bit to avoid to awkward word wrap.