Freedom of the press is not an end in itself but a means to the end of achieving a free society.
Sentiment: POSITIVE
A free press can, of course, be good or bad, but, most certainly without freedom, the press will never be anything but bad.
A free press is the cornerstone of democracy; there is no question about that.
The press doesn't stop publishing, by the way, in a fascist escalation; it simply watches what it says. That too can be an incremental process, and the pace at which the free press polices itself depends on how journalists are targeted.
I don't think that there is absolute freedom of the press. We operate under laws - against libel, for instance. The idea that there is some absolute press freedom is kind of a myth.
One of the unsung freedoms that go with a free press is the freedom not to read it.
Our founding fathers could not have foreseen that freedom of the press might eventually be threatened just as much by media consolidation as by government.
As Americans, we rightfully place tremendous value on having a free and independent press. Our role as journalists is to give voice to the voiceless, and hold our leaders and institutions accountable. But the circle is only completed when that information is consumed by a free-thinking and engaged audience.
No one needs to tell me about the importance of the free press in a democratic society or about the essential role a newspaper can play in its community.
Freedom of the press is guaranteed only to those who own one.
The freedom of the press works in such a way that there is not much freedom from it.