As I am watching the news and dealing with media in my profession, listening to reporters miss quote, and throw their personal opinion in on what should be neutral reporting on subjects they have no clue on, the irony hit me ……the media operated on freedom of speech. All their power, freedom of press is based on the 1st Amendment.
I am willing to bet they have ruined more lives, caused more death with the abuse of the 1st amendment, yet no one tries to regulate it or enforce the regulations in place mostly thy have free reign to do as they please
No one says “hey, we need standard of accuracy”. “We need to be courteous “ “we need to not spread misinformation and slander”, “ we shouldn’t spread unnecessary fear for the recognition of breaking a story first”
No, they are just free to barge in anywhere there might be a story, no consideration or care about the consequence or impact on the people.
They are free to cause panic, the embellish stories to spread fear, based on inaccuracy for no better reason than to seek fame.
Then when sometimes a story gets the truth brought out, and it is nothing like reported there aren’t many if any consequences.
The press gets away with so many abuses that it is obviously rigged
We try hard to protect the 2nd, for the most part we all do the right thing, yet we are in a constant battle, no matter how many truths or facts we bring to the table it is still not ever good enough.
I believe if the 2nd was as abused as the 1st we would be in a world of hurt and they might actually be justified in their witch hunt, but as it stands we are constantly on the defensive, while they get to abuse, unregulated
Sorry for the rant but I have had my fill of the double standards surrounding our situation and the media is a huge thorn in the side of our efforts, and on many other fronts than the 2nd ever dreamed of.