Editorial:
Trump vs. Freedom of Press
Since he started running for office, Donald Trump has been attacking the media. Freedom of the press is a right spelled out in the U.S. Constitution and Trump’s continuous criticism of the press is concerning. Recently, Trump called for the revoking of the licenses of “network news.” Compared to his previous threats, this one actually has serious implications to be deemed unconstitutional if acted upon.
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The freedom of press is what separates the U.S. from many other countries. People in countries, such as China, are fed carefully crafted messages, and anyone trying to disrupt that is quickly silenced. The press is responsible for maintaining a transparency within society, including the government. News outlets also hold the task of holding people accountable for their words and actions. Journalists often create enemies, but the truth is valuable above all else.
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As people in charge of a student newspaper, the Beacon staff has felt this shift in perception of the news. Trump’s regular bashing of the media inspired his supporters to scream “fake news” at everything they disagreed with.
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This is a tactic that Trump is using in order to establish a distrust of the media, and also a trust in himself over other outlets. News flash: Trump is not a news outlet and he should not be trusted to release information on himself. His Twitter is not equivalent to the stories and shows that people who are experts in the news field produce.
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Thankfully, our government has checks and balances installed by the framers of the Constitution. If Trump tries to limit the press, or any other Constitutional right, he will be shut down by the courts. Trump is creating an ever-increasing divide between the citizens of our country, but he will not be able to change the rules that have been working to keep the government functioning for years.
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In general, it is very concerning that a public official, especially the POTUS, is intentionally trying to create a distrust of the media.
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According to a Gallup poll, the trust in U.S. media is at an all time low. This is an issue, especially considering the wide variety of sources available. In 2017, the majority of U.S. citizens are able to access news outlets from all over the world. Information can be accessed at any time and regarding almost any topic.
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U.S. citizens need to take a stand to combat the bashing of news media. It is constructive to be critical of news outlets, but a blanke disregard for the information the produce is dangerous.