A free and unmuzzled press is a very potent force of good in any free and democratic society. For where free press exists there is no room for any despotism, absolutism or tyrannical rule.
The Freedom of the Press is among the known and well-recognized rights of the citizens in any democratic society. Without this freedom there will be no independent voice in any society.
In fact, freedom of the press is the very foundation of journalism. Without any freedom of the press there will be no journalism at all whatsoever.
This is the very reason why a free press is the first thing that any would-be dictator in any given country try to destroy or to undermine in order to achieve a total control in society.
What Is The Freedom Of The Press?
Well freedom of the press is the right to publish newspapers, magazines, or any other printed materials without government restriction and subject only to the laws pertaining to libel, obscenity and other applicable laws. Electronic media in the computer age is likewise included.
Take note of the word “freedom” qualifying the word “press”. Yes it can be truly be said that a press may be equated or synonymous with freedom itself.
Is writing a blog part of journalism and the freedom of the press? Of course it is. If there is no freedom of the press I would not even be allow writing this article nor be allow to publish the same.
The importance of journalism as an indispensable part of press freedom is also recognized in any democratic and free society. In fact, journalism as a course is almost a part of any college or university degree program.
Freedom Of The Press As Recognized Rights
The freedom of the press is not only an idea or concept but a constitutionally and legally recognized right as well.
In the United States the freedom of the press is recognized under the First Amendment which expressly provides as follows: “Congress shall make no laws respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or of the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for redress of grievances.”
In the same way, most of the free and democratic country in the world has a similar provision in its Constitution.
Furthermore, the freedom of the press is not only a nationally or domestically recognized right but an internationally recognized right under Article 19 of the Universal Declaration On Human Rights (UNDHR).
Article 19 of the Universal Declaration On Human Rights expressly provides, to quote: “Everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression; this rights include the right to hold opinions without interference and to seek, receive and impart information and ideas through media and regardless of frontiers.”
Therefore a journalist for that matter has a solemn duty to jealously guard the freedom of the press as an important right of everyone. We can also discuss anything under the sun as long as it is not prohibited by law.
We need to keep the flame of freedom of the press burning as a responsible journalist.
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Members of the press should adhere to the Ethics of Journalism;even bloggers for that matter, where they should only report facts, not falsehood or "angled" reports.
Journalism is not as good as before now, though yes, they should adhere to the morals and ethics but lots of the times they do not since their work needs to say things that will give them money and make them satisfy mangagers an readers too os they are controlled by the fashion world and what people like