Tag: social importance of news

Why Limiting Media Access to the White House Undermines Transparency, Fuels Misinformation, and Threatens the Future of Our Democratic Republic

by Winston Wendell

Durning Trump’s second term we have seen a concerning trend of restricted access to the White House for the press. As I see the political climate shift, I feel it is important to stand up for the freedom of the press, as it plays such an important role as the watchdog of a democratic state.

The Press as the Guardian of Accountability

I believe that the press is the primary mechanism which checks the powers of the government. Providing constant updates to the public and providing a diverse array of opinions allows the press to effectively fulfill its role as a watchdog and inform the public of what transpires in the government buildings. The press allows the American public to hold accountable their representatives and the president.

Socially Significant: Information as Power

We must recognize that the freedom of the press is a matter of profound social importance. Journalism provides the platform where people gain the information necessary to exercise their voting rights wisely. Democracy depends on the free exchange of information as political matters are public concerns.

If an individual has no desire to uphold the democratic regime, limiting the exchange of information is the most sure way to establish the autocracy of one’s ideas. If we are to remain a society of informed constituents, we must allow the freedom of the press that allows us to have an informed discussion and debate of the issues that determine our future.

The Peril of Censorship: Lessons from History

Looking at history with the lens of the past events, it’s easy to see that any attempt at censorship will lead to a divided country. By attempting to restrict the freedom of the press, one effectively promotes the spread of rumors and lies among the populace.

Division brings forth a lasting distrust between the people and the government, and, once established, is exceptionally difficult to combat. Through its limitation of the freedom of the press, a president betrays his swore constitutional duties and the country and promotes distrust between them and the government, putting the stability of the entire state at risk.

Building a Conscious Society

I contend that the freedom of the press is the cornerstone of a Democracy. This is because of the ability it grants us to process governmental happenings and to form a consistent opinion on it. A country that hides its actions from its citizens is a suspicious country, one which has much to hide.

I believe that Donald Trump’s decision to restrict the access of the press to the White House goes against the democratic ideals of transparency and accountability. We must demand that our political figures respect those ideals for the country is built on. Journalism fulfills a crucial role for it gives us a chance to become informed on the issues that determine our future. The presence of reporters in the Whitehouse briefings is a guarantee of freedom of the press.

I believe it is our collective duty to ensure that the press remains free—because, without it, the light of democracy will eventually dim.