Why is the press so easily cowed, manipulated and coerced into submission?
1. In previous times, being a news reporter fell into two categories:
a. The town crier. This person was hired by the government to make announcements regarding public safety and news the government felt the people needed to know. This was a good safe and secure job as long as you did not let your opinion in anyway interfere with the 'official' view.
b. The rumor mill. These people were the sneaky busy bodies that made it their business to spread the bad and selacious gossip on everyone. This job really wasn't a job at all. More like a hobby. It often led to broken noses, death threats and a bad image in the community.
2. It cost money to put out the news. Where to get it and what do they want for it?
In ages past, the proclamation, a paper 'town crier,' was pasted on or tacked to a wall, door or other publicly accessible place or handed out on the street. It was paid for by the government and regularly disparagingly refered to as propaganda. Money wasn't a problem and the only editorial view was the official line.
The 'rag' or rumor mill was put out by hobbyists with an ax to grind or grievances against whatever and who ever. It was paid for by the hobbyist and his (no her) friends. It was often distributed in secret and posted to walls, often placed surreptitiously overtop the official sheet. If you were found in possession of said rag you were often beaten, jailed, shot or otherwise frowned upon. It was financially independent of everyone but the close knit group that put it out and lasted as long as their fortitude, fortune or life.
The muckraking press of the 1900's, especially in New York was an exaggerated example of this where the hobbyist was Hearst and the writers dedicated idealists and/or thrill seekers even in the face of great personal danger, with papers and offices often burned by the outraged and reporters beaten or killed - not usually by the government.
3. Today and the 'free' press.
Where does the term 'free press' come from and what does it mean? "A press not restricted or controlled by government censorship as to politics or ideology." Notice the definition says nothing of support by or access to the government (kind of like 'freedom or religion').
A free press allows you to print your views on anything without the government stomping on you. This was a hard fought right granted in the Bill of Rights to the American people. Not to the British, French, Japanese or any other. For those groups it is still an ideal, but not a right. Those dedicated reporters, as in yesteryear are few and far between, and like in ages past (being somewhat suicidal) have a tendency to get killed while their weak willed cowardly colleagues stay in cushy offices and do great imitations of 'town criers'.
So, "how goes it America? Is the press still free?" Why yes it is. In fact it's booming: newspapers large and small, blogs, tweets and all sorts and manner to let the world know you’re there.
Really? Sure, if you can afford to print it and you have no fear of losing your job by offending someone who could otherwise make your life hell (not the government of course), you can tell it to the world.
What happened? Why don't reporters ask probing questions? Why don't they write inspired undercover stories exposing the ills of society like their brothers of 100 years ago? Why are present day reporters just sitting in their office writing stories from wire services? Easy answer: Points one and two as above, paraphrased:
1. Writing real news is dangerous and hard work done by dedicated hobbyists who are willing to risk everything for the dedication or thrill. It is ever so much safer to imitate a town crier and get your news from the official wire.
2. Real news is written by publications and reporters, bloggers, etc who have the money from like minded people with the resources to ignore pubic and advertiser’s opinions or are willing to risk what they have for the thrill or dedication to an ideal.
The government is under no obligation to help you and it is not supposd to hinder you. If you depend on the government or anyone else for money you can't very well complain when they tell you they don't want you to print something and if you do they won't give you any more money. And if in your zeal, you steal someone's property or secrets just to get a jump on a story for your own self-satisfaction, you should not be surprised if they are upset about it and seek redress.
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