“Freedom for people depends on freedom of the press.” — Antonio Guterres.
That quote, not to mention the author, is likely to inspire billions of responses.
Once Guterres’ identity is known, another billion or two.
In other words, there is no shortage of thoughts when it comes to the press.
News readers — even puzzle enthusiasts or lovers of cartoons (the press also publishes games and entertainment) — express positive opinions about some publications and negative thoughts about others, or they favor some aspects and ignore others.
It’s practical to choose multiple publications to read, ranging from near to far away.
And it is prudent to read a variety of publications — and even radio and television offer websites these days with the written word — as it is imperative to be well informed on topics and views affecting the communities, the state and the nation.
The goal is to include at least one trusted publication, one that has proven its credibility and objectivity over the decades.
Mind you, it won’t be a perfect publication. Newspaper reporters and editors make mistakes under deadline pressure as other professionals do. One difference between the credible publications and the not-so are a corrections policy, which is adhered to.
The value of newspapers has been shown through history. When papers illuminate events, the people make just decisions, and when transparency is lacking, the most horrible events occur, occasionally with fatal outcomes and particularly when it comes to democracy.
The national press has been under great duress in recent years — trying to cover an administration whose leader couldn’t be trusted to speak at press conferences because of health issues and reporting on another wanting to direct press policy.
President Donald Trump, who appears to love the public’s attention, recently barred The Associated Press from the Oval Office because its headquarters wouldn’t agree to call the Gulf of Mexico by Trump’s preference of Gulf of America. While one might give Trump credit for being all-in for America, the judicial branch of government deemed the action against the Associated Press contrary to the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution.
Other types of duress result from the polarization of the people (readers) on national topics, including politics; the economy experiencing inflation (as it is for other industries) and advanced technology that enables new ways of delivering newspapers.
In response to the challenges, hundreds of newspapers throughout the states have ceased publication, leaving communities and a wide swath of states and the nation with a dearth of information about their local governments’ activities, the community’s births and deaths, reports on criminal activity, school sports and other activities, historical columns, as well as features about personalities in the community. Not to mention, a photographical presentation about a community from day to day.
Such information help provide the basis for informed government decisions, the impetus for a birthday or a sympathy card, when to be cautious or attend local events, and a record of the community’s people and the lives led. It bonds a community.
And, in a small city or town, the authors and editors of the information quickly learn to get it correct the first time or to hear about it on the street, in the grocery store, at church or while pumping gas at the station, to mention a few possibilities.
Press freedom isn’t about only newspapers and the journalism industry. It is about the people, the public, which is empowered by information papers provide, to live freely with a group of people — each with their own opinion, hopefully gained through a wealth of information collected and published in good faith, unfettered by government interference.
Antonio Guterres is secretary-general of the United Nations. He was speaking about World Press Freedom Day, which is May 3, 2025.
A free press, for a free people
“Freedom for people depends on freedom of the press.” — Antonio Guterres.
That quote, not to mention the author, is likely to inspire billions of responses.
Once Guterres’ identity is known, another billion or two.
In other words, there is no shortage of thoughts when it comes to the press.
News readers — even puzzle enthusiasts or lovers of cartoons (the press also publishes games and entertainment) — express positive opinions about some publications and negative thoughts about others, or they favor some aspects and ignore others.
It’s practical to choose multiple publications to read, ranging from near to far away.
And it is prudent to read a variety of publications — and even radio and television offer websites these days with the written word — as it is imperative to be well informed on topics and views affecting the communities, the state and the nation.
The goal is to include at least one trusted publication, one that has proven its credibility and objectivity over the decades.
Mind you, it won’t be a perfect publication. Newspaper reporters and editors make mistakes under deadline pressure as other professionals do. One difference between the credible publications and the not-so are a corrections policy, which is adhered to.
The value of newspapers has been shown through history. When papers illuminate events, the people make just decisions, and when transparency is lacking, the most horrible events occur, occasionally with fatal outcomes and particularly when it comes to democracy.
The national press has been under great duress in recent years — trying to cover an administration whose leader couldn’t be trusted to speak at press conferences because of health issues and reporting on another wanting to direct press policy.
President Donald Trump, who appears to love the public’s attention, recently barred The Associated Press from the Oval Office because its headquarters wouldn’t agree to call the Gulf of Mexico by Trump’s preference of Gulf of America. While one might give Trump credit for being all-in for America, the judicial branch of government deemed the action against the Associated Press contrary to the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution.
Other types of duress result from the polarization of the people (readers) on national topics, including politics; the economy experiencing inflation (as it is for other industries) and advanced technology that enables new ways of delivering newspapers.
In response to the challenges, hundreds of newspapers throughout the states have ceased publication, leaving communities and a wide swath of states and the nation with a dearth of information about their local governments’ activities, the community’s births and deaths, reports on criminal activity, school sports and other activities, historical columns, as well as features about personalities in the community. Not to mention, a photographical presentation about a community from day to day.
Such information help provide the basis for informed government decisions, the impetus for a birthday or a sympathy card, when to be cautious or attend local events, and a record of the community’s people and the lives led. It bonds a community.
And, in a small city or town, the authors and editors of the information quickly learn to get it correct the first time or to hear about it on the street, in the grocery store, at church or while pumping gas at the station, to mention a few possibilities.
Press freedom isn’t about only newspapers and the journalism industry. It is about the people, the public, which is empowered by information papers provide, to live freely with a group of people — each with their own opinion, hopefully gained through a wealth of information collected and published in good faith, unfettered by government interference.
Antonio Guterres is secretary-general of the United Nations. He was speaking about World Press Freedom Day, which is May 3, 2025.