tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post4256582258017386016..comments2024-03-28T10:41:26.999-06:00Comments on Blood-Red Pencil: Journalists and the First AmendmentDanihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14471919576687777886noreply@blogger.comBlogger32125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-69256890339483610032017-07-21T09:42:30.716-06:002017-07-21T09:42:30.716-06:00Or...as I mentioned above, "Many people are s...Or...as I mentioned above, "Many people are saying..." and "Everyone said..." I feel the good journalists "anonymous sources" are totally vetted. At least I hope they are.Polly Iyerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05729656119287702191noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-39145176148407159362017-07-21T07:49:28.715-06:002017-07-21T07:49:28.715-06:00With freedoms come great responsibilities. Journal...With freedoms come great responsibilities. Journalists these days are forgetting that they're not the story, that facts need to rule over opinions, and that the American people are getting wise to this business of "anonymous sources say...."Patricia Stolteyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17192369425956406122noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-64325873869320596332017-07-19T18:41:31.203-06:002017-07-19T18:41:31.203-06:00Thanks, Shonell. Now more than ever, with the cry ...Thanks, Shonell. Now more than ever, with the cry of "fake news," it's important to make sure the truth is exposed and that no one can muzzle anyone from telling it.Polly Iyerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05729656119287702191noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-12216638677254861722017-07-19T17:43:22.876-06:002017-07-19T17:43:22.876-06:00Great piece. When I taught media writing, I always...Great piece. When I taught media writing, I always talked to the students about the importance of shedding light on the truth and the work that is involved in doing this. Shonell Baconhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04827197354857197637noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-74309824133450504532017-07-19T09:47:27.244-06:002017-07-19T09:47:27.244-06:00I agree. And neither should the source be, "m...I agree. And neither should the source be, "many people said," or "everyone is saying," no matter who uses those attributions. Polly Iyerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05729656119287702191noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-83071984640661206642017-07-19T09:17:40.986-06:002017-07-19T09:17:40.986-06:00Journalists who desire to be viewed as journalists...Journalists who desire to be viewed as journalists have to stop giving their opinions. Just the facts, please. Check the facts. You have to have two or more reliable corroborating sources. I don't want to read a judgemental and condemning story based entirely on anonymous sources. If they can't get corroborating facts to back up the anonymous sources, don't print it or report it. Nike Chillemihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13840406107033413597noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-19947594663700996732017-07-19T06:43:15.126-06:002017-07-19T06:43:15.126-06:00Thank you, Polly. I enjoyed our chat, Be Well.Thank you, Polly. I enjoyed our chat, Be Well.Liz Boegerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14849249805836622070noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-46790601903066993132017-07-18T20:06:15.263-06:002017-07-18T20:06:15.263-06:00Ah, so the "Obama did it too" rebuttal. ...Ah, so the "Obama did it too" rebuttal. As far as the King Abdul Aziz Order of Merit, President George W. Bush also received it, and for neither president was it considered unconstitutional or an emolument. President Obama didn't gain financially from the Nobel peace prize money. He gave every cent to 10 charities, many for veterans. I will not continue this discussion further, and I thank you for you interest.Polly Iyerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05729656119287702191noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-80560035493207363882017-07-18T19:49:14.072-06:002017-07-18T19:49:14.072-06:00Thanks, Peg. I appreciate your comment.Thanks, Peg. I appreciate your comment.Polly Iyerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05729656119287702191noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-20015163756473977822017-07-18T19:48:29.709-06:002017-07-18T19:48:29.709-06:00You're exactly right, VR. The First Amendment ...You're exactly right, VR. The First Amendment guarantees freedom of speech and freedom of the press. One allows a person the protection to say whatever he wants; the other allows the press to write the truth. Though "the truth" is not expressly defined within the amendment itself, it has always been promoted and accepted as the goal of a free press. To distort that in any way is, as you said, both unconstitutional and un-American.Polly Iyerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05729656119287702191noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-57201058050042613482017-07-18T19:37:11.882-06:002017-07-18T19:37:11.882-06:00Recently, I've said I can't tell satire fr...Recently, I've said I can't tell satire from truth. One of my favorite political satirists, Andy Borowitz, is sometimes so close to the truth that these days it's hard to tell the difference.Polly Iyerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05729656119287702191noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-24107850652355256762017-07-18T14:46:41.572-06:002017-07-18T14:46:41.572-06:00Thanks for this great conversation, Polly. Admitte...Thanks for this great conversation, Polly. Admittedly, I am no Constitutional scholar, and you are educating me as well. I did a quick search of the clause you referenced and found this link from the Washington Post in 2009. It is an eye-opening article, but surely the two incidents mentioned did not cause any uprising. As for the press briefings, I know one intent of the current WH Press office is to allow access by some of the more remote, small town news outlets that did not have the budget to have a staffer in DC. I am also certain there is more to the story, including the "gloves-off" position the WH is forwarding with the Press. We are living in interesting times, to say the least. Thanks again for starting this important conversation. I appreciate that we have been able to share our ideas--many that match. Here's that link><br />http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/10/15/AR2009101502277.htmlLiz Boegerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14849249805836622070noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-54987727530001847172017-07-18T13:55:13.380-06:002017-07-18T13:55:13.380-06:00Well done, Polly. You presented a balanced and inf...Well done, Polly. You presented a balanced and informative exposé of your own!Peg Brantleyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04906858123466177508noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-62561183699359906442017-07-18T13:48:32.686-06:002017-07-18T13:48:32.686-06:00Excellent post, Polly. All news comes to us filter...Excellent post, Polly. All news comes to us filtered. As media consumers, it’s our responsibility to carry out due diligence and fact check when we can. Two truths hold: willful ignorance benefits no one, and freedom is nothing without choice.<br /><br />To speak out against a press story that one believes to be unfair, deceptive, or false is the constitutional right of every American. To curtail or attack the free press as “fake news” isn’t freedom of speech. It’s a subversion of the First Amendment, both unconstitutional and un-American.<br />VR Barkowskihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04927993233682731113noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-43582093269122077982017-07-18T13:04:25.291-06:002017-07-18T13:04:25.291-06:00It is getting more difficult to sort fact from fic...It is getting more difficult to sort fact from fiction. Journalistic integrity has been compromised by "legitimate" news sources often enough that they can't be fully trusted. I try to research the information I read, but that can be exhausting. When you have so many sources of information and misinformation, it takes a great deal of effort to remain informed. It has never been more critical to have sources of fact-checked and verified "news."Diana Hurwitzhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18216220574149672733noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-22847259029734576502017-07-18T11:49:37.235-06:002017-07-18T11:49:37.235-06:00For one, the Emoluments Clause that says no presid...For one, the Emoluments Clause that says no president or his family should profit from the office. That's already a done deal and would have initiated an uprising if it were a Dem president. Seems Congress is looking the other way as far as this clause. Prohibiting some news organizations and TV networks from attending the press briefings. That seems to have subsided, but it happened. There's more, but this isn't the venue for making the case.Polly Iyerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05729656119287702191noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-84983221832871318732017-07-18T11:38:42.130-06:002017-07-18T11:38:42.130-06:00Hi Polly,
You raise some questions. How is our Co...Hi Polly,<br /><br />You raise some questions. How is our Constitution being manipulated and when, recently has the press been suppressed? With cable news and social media the press is more vibrant than ever.Liz Boegerhttp://www.lizboeger.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-12299120446252736752017-07-18T11:07:22.462-06:002017-07-18T11:07:22.462-06:00Who knew the truth could be bought, Dani? Who knew...Who knew the truth could be bought, Dani? Who knew the Constitution could be manipulated and/or ignored to further an agenda? We need journalists to put the facts before us and hope the majority of people care enough to learn what's true and what isn't. As it is now, I'm in that alternate universe with you.Polly Iyerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05729656119287702191noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-81983434192512364952017-07-18T10:54:54.248-06:002017-07-18T10:54:54.248-06:00Great article, Polly. I don't know what to say...Great article, Polly. I don't know what to say about all this communication we're a part of every day. What is the truth? Who can we trust? What is real? Even scientists are being bought off, and journalists are even more vulnerable. I feel like I'm living in an alternate universe half the time!Danihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14471919576687777886noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-9029168020898001042017-07-18T09:17:46.074-06:002017-07-18T09:17:46.074-06:00I agree, Linda, but journalists report what's ...I agree, Linda, but journalists report what's happening. Protesters react to situations that affect their lives, whether it's shootings or healthcare or racism. I also agree that protesting these things would be better accomplished through peaceful dissent, but sometimes those involved find those avenues closed and resort to violence through frustration. In their efforts to report the facts, journalists should not, and for the most part, do not, take sides.Polly Iyerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05729656119287702191noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-65657318602933724522017-07-18T09:04:02.989-06:002017-07-18T09:04:02.989-06:00I agree with the huge value of a free press AND wi...I agree with the huge value of a free press AND with those who deplore the violence that has erupted in this country over disagreement with a point of view. The dissemination of unbiased truth is essential to educate and inform people. However, demonstrations that injure or even kill others, destroy property, and keep people from sharing different perspectives endanger us all. Politicians and diplomats advocate sitting down at the negotiating table and discussing a resolution of differences. Can this approach not be effectively applied to in a balanced way to other scenarios? Linda Lanehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16056682992943171805noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-22404202086536832112017-07-18T08:58:37.003-06:002017-07-18T08:58:37.003-06:00I couldn't agree with you more. At no point in...I couldn't agree with you more. At no point in my post did I take one side or the other, including with Wikileaks. My point was that we mustn't silence a free press, and when they are wrong, they are just as deserving of criticism as their subjects. I agree that there is no place in our Democratic Republic for violent protest, but I also think that adhering to the Constitution should not be blatantly manipulated to suit whoever is in office. You either follow the Constitution and its laws or you don't. Thank you for your participation.Polly Iyerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05729656119287702191noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-55173345471001387012017-07-18T08:41:22.267-06:002017-07-18T08:41:22.267-06:00I applaud and share your passion and patriotism in...I applaud and share your passion and patriotism in taking on this important topic. Having said that, my views align with the comments of CJ above. Too many journalists and politicians have fallen from grace due to unsavory personal ethics and disclosures of unethical reporting or governing. <br /><br />As citizens, we must pay attention to the free press as an UNBIASED, HONEST agent for the people. Yes, there has been good reason for that necessity on all sides of the aisle over the life of our dear country. <br /><br />When we bring unchecked emotion and lack of reason to the debate in the form of civil disobedience and free speech and it turns into violent protests against the speech of those we disagree with and the distruction of property, even injury to and attacks on fellow countrymen, we have a problem. <br /><br />As writers we are readers and viewers and thinkers. I make a point of including many different media outlets in my information gathering so that I may make an informed decision on these important ideas. <br /><br />Regardless of how well I like or dislike the occupant of the White House during any given term, I still respect our constitution and system to guide our vision and action. In the end we must rely on CIVIL discourse as the model and practice. <br />And believe it or not, there is much common ground worthy of calm, passionate discussion. Be Well!<br /> Liz Boegerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14849249805836622070noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-9573616186810098632017-07-18T08:23:07.931-06:002017-07-18T08:23:07.931-06:00The "fake news" label is dangerous and a...The "fake news" label is dangerous and anyone who falls for it isn't doing his or her job as an informed citizen. At the end of the day (a term I hate but works here), we are in charge of what's true and what isn't. The people, We the People, must do our jobs as well as the journalists.Polly Iyerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05729656119287702191noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-22706044731555509272017-07-18T08:20:14.554-06:002017-07-18T08:20:14.554-06:00I agree, obviously, and answered above accordingly...I agree, obviously, and answered above accordingly. There are too many people willing to accept one side or the other without proper diligence in ferreting out the truth. Somehow it always comes out, though, doesn't it?Polly Iyerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05729656119287702191noreply@blogger.com