The press is the only institution that is truly accountable. The founding fathers put the First Amendment first for a reason.
Sentiment: NEGATIVE
When you have mass surveillance, it's impossible to meet the intent of the First Amendment because reporters can't talk to sources because sources are afraid to talk.
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.
The Founding Fathers gave the free press the protection it must have to bare the secrets of government and inform the people.
When I began we did not really have a lot of First Amendment law. It is really surprising to think of it this way, but a lot of the law - most of the law that relates to the First Amendment freedom of the press in America - is really within living memory.
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.
One thing I detest most about the financial press is the lack of accountability. All sorts of nonsense is said without penalty.
We in the press have a special role since there is no other institution in our society that can hold the President accountable. I do believe that our democracy can endure and prevail only if the American people are informed.
I think that the press has a duty and an obligation to report on local government, state government, federal government - to be aggressive, to do its job. And its job is to report on whatever it's covering.
As to the media, they are protected by the First Amendment, as they should be.
The press is the hired agent of a monied system, and set up for no other purpose than to tell lies where their interests are involved. One can trust nobody and nothing.