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Editorial
October 3, 1932
The Key West Citizen
Key West, Monroe County, Florida
What is this article about?
An editorial from the Jayhawker Press argues that the public has a vital interest in maintaining a free press for their own liberties, emphasizing the press's role as an impartial witness and the court's ethical standards in public opinion.
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PRESS FREEDOM UP TO PUBLIC
(Jayhawker Press)
I insist that a free press is a matter in which the people have a deeper and more vital concern than newspaper men themselves. A wise people demand a free press, not for the press' sake, but for their own sake—the sake of their liberties and their perpetuity.
The newspaper men can go to jail or go to digging ditches for a living—when this temporary setback to employment has passed—but a free people cannot exist without full information as to what is transpiring in the world, a free expression of opinion, and a full and free discussion and criticism of issues and policies. At the best the elector can know all too little about the momentous questions he is called upon to decide; at the best the demagogue has too great opportunity to delude and deceive.
I would not maintain that the American press is today the great direct leader in political thought that it once was. Its function has somewhat changed in the last 40 years. Its mission today is to give facts as fairly and accurately as possible, to picture the background, to give the public the basis upon which to decide. The newspaper is more and more becoming a witness rather than a special pleader. That is as it should be.
Whether this witness is free to tell the truth depends upon the ethical standards of the court in which it appears.
And that court is the court of public opinion.
It's up to the public.
(Jayhawker Press)
I insist that a free press is a matter in which the people have a deeper and more vital concern than newspaper men themselves. A wise people demand a free press, not for the press' sake, but for their own sake—the sake of their liberties and their perpetuity.
The newspaper men can go to jail or go to digging ditches for a living—when this temporary setback to employment has passed—but a free people cannot exist without full information as to what is transpiring in the world, a free expression of opinion, and a full and free discussion and criticism of issues and policies. At the best the elector can know all too little about the momentous questions he is called upon to decide; at the best the demagogue has too great opportunity to delude and deceive.
I would not maintain that the American press is today the great direct leader in political thought that it once was. Its function has somewhat changed in the last 40 years. Its mission today is to give facts as fairly and accurately as possible, to picture the background, to give the public the basis upon which to decide. The newspaper is more and more becoming a witness rather than a special pleader. That is as it should be.
Whether this witness is free to tell the truth depends upon the ethical standards of the court in which it appears.
And that court is the court of public opinion.
It's up to the public.
What sub-type of article is it?
Press Freedom
What keywords are associated?
Press Freedom
Public Opinion
Free Expression
Journalism Role
Liberties
What entities or persons were involved?
Jayhawker Press
Newspaper Men
American Press
Public
Editorial Details
Primary Topic
Public Responsibility For Free Press
Stance / Tone
Advocacy For Public Demand Of Free Press
Key Figures
Jayhawker Press
Newspaper Men
American Press
Public
Key Arguments
Free Press Concerns People More Than Newspaper Men For Liberties' Sake
People Cannot Exist Freely Without Full Information And Free Discussion
Press Has Evolved To Impartial Witness Providing Facts For Public Decision
Freedom Of Press Depends On Ethical Standards Of Public Opinion Court