The University of Connecticut published the results of an interesting study on press freedoms today.
The survey of 112,003 students finds that 36% believe newspapers should get "government approval" of stories before publishing; 51% say they should be able to publish freely; 13% have no opinion.
I found the study troubling. While I often have trouble with the main stream media, allowing the government to play a role in determining what stories are reported is both frightening and counter to what the framers of the constitution intended when they passed the 1st amendment press clause. Perhaps more frightening than the survey itself are some of the interpretations of it made by Jack Dvorak, director of High School Journalism at Indiana University.
Kids aren't learning enough about the First Amendment in history, civics or English classes. It also tracks closely with recent findings of adults' attitudes.
I have not seen any similar study tracking adult attitudes towards the press clause but I certainly hope Mr. Dvorak is wrong. While people have many reasons to question main stream media and just as many reasons to lack confidence in it, letting the government run the presses is not the answer. There are much better solutions starting with blogs. Blogs help provide a check on the main stream media (just ask Dan Rather) to ensure that the media reports accurately. In addition, many blogs offer stories not seen in the local media. That is the reason SDP started.
If 30% of the adults in the US really feel that the government should take an active role in the media I hope they will seriously reconsider their position and start by checking out some alternative sources of getting their information starting with blogs. I hope people will come to SDP, Powerline and Instapundit. Then I hope they check out Daily Kos and other liberal blogs to see what their point of view is on similar subjects. People can look to the blogosphere and see what the media is doing right and what they are doing wrong. If they voice their opinions to the media there is a potential for change. Rather than losing faith in the 1st amendment press clause people can do their part to make the press better. It is certainly a better solution than depending on the government to give us our information.
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