Back to document

First freedom protects more than just press

Commentary

By Kenneth A. Paulson
Senior vice president, The Freedom Forum
Executive director, First Amendment Center

06.15.00

I have an interior-decorating suggestion for America's newsrooms.

Displayed high above the desks of reporters, writers, editors and news directors should be a large sign (preferably in neon) proclaiming, "Honor the First Amendment."

After all, there's a real movement nationwide to post words to live by. (See the Ten Commandments.) And there's little question that most journalists would benefit from a daily reminder of our most fundamental freedoms.

That came to mind during a recent visit with a group of newspaper staff trainers at The Freedom Forum's Pacific Coast Center in San Francisco. The participants were newspaper professionals who are responsible for developing the skills of reporters and editors. They were a terrific group — lively, thoughtful and committed.

But the give-and-take with these journalists did reinforce a concern for me. Few newsrooms take the opportunity to tap into the ideals of the First Amendment in a way that bolsters the quality and spirit of journalism.

Good newsrooms invest significant time and resources in developing more sophisticated reporting and editing but rarely give thought to the powerful principles that make that writing and editing possible.

As a newspaper editor and lawyer, I made it a point occasionally to conduct what I thought were First Amendment seminars for my staff. I would spend an hour or two each year talking about libel law, defamation, privacy and freedom of information issues and congratulate myself on putting my law degree to use.

Of course, I was kidding myself. I wasn't conducting First Amendment seminars at all. I was conducting freedom of the press seminars. The First Amendment embodies five freedoms — not just freedom of the press. It guarantees our freedom of religion, freedom of speech, and our right to both assemble and petition the government for change.

Viewed solely from the narrow aspect of press freedom, the First Amendment is just one more excuse to publish what we wanted to publish in the first place.

But viewed in its entirety, the First Amendment is nothing less than the cornerstone of our democracy.

So how can the nation's news media truly honor the First Amendment? Some suggestions:

  • By reporting fully and fairly. It's true that the First Amendment gives us rights, not responsibilities. But if we truly cherish those rights, we should exercise them with passion, professionalism and good faith. Failure to do so only reinforces the public's discontent with the free press and encourages legislators' worst impulses.
  • By remembering that the right to a free press came from the original Americans — citizens of a new nation who demanded this freedom so that someone would keep an eye on government. Being a watchdog is not a job; it's a mission.
  • By aggressively reporting news stories on First Amendment topics. I've heard from editors who believe that writing about the First Amendment is "inside baseball." This stems from a misplaced belief that the press has a conflict of interest in reporting about First Amendment issues.

    Nonsense. The First Amendment belongs to all Americans, not just the press. The right to express oneself and the right to embrace one's own faith are as critical to the public welfare as clean air, clean water and good public education. As I've heard Charles Overby, chairman and chief executive officer of The Freedom Forum, point out, "The First Amendment is not a special interest."

  • By taking a stand. Editorial writers do a good job of defending a free press and seeking freedom of information, but it's important to remember that all freedom of expression needs to be protected. Since the shootings at Columbine High School in Colorado, young people have suffered a repressive and often irrational backlash from some school administrators. That's a critical place for newspapers to weigh in. If we care about the First Amendment, we need to protect it on all fronts. Of course, one of the challenges of instilling an ongoing, active respect for the First Amendment in newsrooms is that it just seems so dull and corny when viewed in the abstract.

    • Too many of us have slogged through too many tedious history texts to muster much enthusiasm for historical figures. Get pumped up about the values of Thomas Jefferson or James Madison? Not likely.

    Somehow, the news industry needs to shake off that mindset. From time to time, news organizations need to pause long enough to ask, "Who are we serving? What do we believe in? Are there principles behind the profits?"

    If the press doesn't connect with the ideas of the nation's Founding Fathers, it becomes just another for-profit enterprise, no more noble and no more valuable than any other commercial enterprise.

    Good journalists do their jobs with a real understanding of their role in a free society.

    Unless newsrooms understand the origin and evolution of our First Amendment rights, they're not in a good position to defend our most fundamental freedoms. And if they don't, who will?

    For more information
    The following Freedom Forum publications are available. Contact Paul Cain at pcain@freedomforum.org. Please indicate the publication number.

    Ken Paulson is executive director of the First Amendment Center with offices in Arlington, Va., and Nashville, Tenn. His mailing address is:
    Ken Paulson
    First Amendment Center
    1207 18th Ave. S
    Nashville, TN 37212