President Trump completed 100 days in office today. This post is not about his achievements or lack of it. He broke a tradition on this occasion and skipped the annual White House Correspondents' Dinner. He chose instead to launch a fresh tirade on the press in America, accusing them of being biased and not giving enough importance to his administration's achievements.
The press historically has been an important aspect of a democratic society. It not only informs but provides a forum for debate and discussion. Democracy is all about an informed electorate that relies on an independent press to take decisions. The First Amendment in the US context has provided the journalists to be fearless in their opinions and free from government regulation. From time to time the press has to assert its freedom, especially in the face of a concerted effort to malign and discredit the entire fraternity. The price of freedom, as stated by Thomas Jefferson, is eternal vigil.
Hasan Minhaj, senior correspondent on The Daily Show, hit out at Trump while reminding the journalists that their obligation is not to any one person, even if he is the US President, but to the American people. Minhaj took a dig at the President for painting the entire Muslim community with the same brush for the excesses of a few radicals. He praised the senior journalists Carl Bernstein and Bob Woodward for inspiring the present set of journalists and hoped that they would in turn be a model for the future journalists. For that they have to stand up to the most powerful person and not be intimidated by the bizarre allegations and threats.
Press freedom is under attack everywhere. Executive in major democracies are consolidating their power by diluting the other branches of the State. Press being the fourth estate is also a target as there is a perception of immense power that they wield. The government of the day feels that it has a people given right to ride roughshod over all democratic institutions. Press is an integral part of a liberal democratic polity. Free press is the only bulwark against the dictatorial tendencies. Let a thousand newspapers bloom.
The press historically has been an important aspect of a democratic society. It not only informs but provides a forum for debate and discussion. Democracy is all about an informed electorate that relies on an independent press to take decisions. The First Amendment in the US context has provided the journalists to be fearless in their opinions and free from government regulation. From time to time the press has to assert its freedom, especially in the face of a concerted effort to malign and discredit the entire fraternity. The price of freedom, as stated by Thomas Jefferson, is eternal vigil.
Hasan Minhaj, senior correspondent on The Daily Show, hit out at Trump while reminding the journalists that their obligation is not to any one person, even if he is the US President, but to the American people. Minhaj took a dig at the President for painting the entire Muslim community with the same brush for the excesses of a few radicals. He praised the senior journalists Carl Bernstein and Bob Woodward for inspiring the present set of journalists and hoped that they would in turn be a model for the future journalists. For that they have to stand up to the most powerful person and not be intimidated by the bizarre allegations and threats.
Press freedom is under attack everywhere. Executive in major democracies are consolidating their power by diluting the other branches of the State. Press being the fourth estate is also a target as there is a perception of immense power that they wield. The government of the day feels that it has a people given right to ride roughshod over all democratic institutions. Press is an integral part of a liberal democratic polity. Free press is the only bulwark against the dictatorial tendencies. Let a thousand newspapers bloom.
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