Word on Free Press

The free press isn’t. Free that is. Oh its free to opine and report events, happenings and news. But only if they have the courage to do so. Increasingly the press cannot pay its bills so they sell their services to people who can afford to do so. But that crimps the freedom in speech of the press, don’t you know? If you print something an advertiser doesn’t like, you lose ad revenue. Or at least live with that threat. And so speech is softened, curtailed, perhaps omitted? Is that free speech? Is that freedom of the press?

The highest bidder does not make for free speech, especially in the year 2012. Let us count the way:

• The top 1% can afford to buy ads, or buy ‘free’ speech
• The 99% cannot individually
• Corporations and business firms can afford to buy ads, and free speech that supports their view in order to further their net income, so they can continue to support the 1% who own them
• Employees cannot buy ads or free speech because they may lose their jobs; where’s the free speech in that?
• Continuing a way of life for the very few with some largesse thrown in to the lesser people? That may be free speech to the few, but not the many.

Our nation is a society of, for and by the people. Period. Freedom of speech, religion, and press are key elements to keep that society moving forward. What the rich may have lost sight of is they are where they are because of the accident of birth, inheritance, talent, skill or whatever assets that allowed them to propel to the heights.

When any of the freedoms begin to contract, we all lose. I may not agree with your religion, or your words in speech or press, but you help me form a better, more healthy thinking within me. That strengthens me. It strengthens you. Yes, it strengthens society as a whole.  Any imbalance destroys the dynamic of a strong and healthy society.

If you need a template of a free press, go to www.villagechronicles.net. That’s our local paper. We cover Warrenville, Illinois. Free of charge. Every home and business in our postal zip code gets the paper. Every two weeks. The good, the bad and the ugly is in there. It’s out town, Our story. We chronicle it.

And we do it with volunteers. No payroll. Little overhead. Administration, office space, computer systems, all donated. Paper clips and paper stock, slightly reimbursed. Postal and printing costs are covered by advertising revenues.

We are careful to provide knowledgeable news and opinion, as well as language that edify and encourages. We try to avoid bombast and ill manners so all readers have the chance to read clear information and hopefully can understand it. We don’t pull punches when they are needed or deserved. But that is not our intent. Accordingly we irk some people including leaders and movers/shakers. That’s their problem not ours. Meanwhile we keep on doing the task in good times and bad, in favor and out. And people can rely on that. They can allow us our opinion without disciplining us.

Now that’s a free press.

Try that, however, with the Tribune, the New York Times, LA Times, Miami Herald, etc. They have to listen to their opinion makers and captains of industry and government. Or else they will lose the needed dollars to keep their companies alive. Not the Chronicles. We do our thing because the community deserves it and supports it. In Many different ways. When was the last time you wrote a column or news article for free in the larger publications? When did you last read that sort of thing in one of those publications?

Probably never. A letter to the editor or opinionated piece, yes; but not news. And that is the failing of the modern day ‘free press’ establishment. The 1% has its grip on it.

Care to support a healthier template of success? Visit our website!

February 14, 2012