President vs. the Press

President Donald Trump claimed Friday afternoon that he is “banning” CNN, MS NOW and Politico “from the White House.” He said it was “effective immediately,” but there was no indication his administration had taken steps to follow through. The country’s leading First Amendment groups said that if Trump tries to implement a ban, it would be unconstitutional and rejected by the courts. The newsrooms targeted by Trump echoed that sentiment, and have filed a lawsuit.

1. What does the First Amendment protect when it comes to freedom of the press?

2. What happened in today's news story?

3. What is the difference between criticizing a news organization and restricting its access to government?

4. Why might independent journalists be important to citizens?

5. Does freedom of the press guarantee journalists unlimited access to government officials? Explain.

6. What question about today's story do you still think needs to be answered?

What In the World?

In more than half the world’s countries, banning, confiscation and censorship of publications are everyday occurrences. Even today, nearly two billion men and women live under governments which restrict their right to know the truth. More than 1 billion of those people live in China.

How does Chinese censorship work?

Who Watches the Watchers?

Imagine that you live in New York City in September 2001.

The World Trade Center has collapsed. Your neighborhood is covered with dust and debris.

Government officials tell you:

"The air is safe."

You have no way of knowing whether that statement is true.

Would you:

A. Trust the government because officials have access to information you don't have?
B. Trust scientists and health experts?
C. Want journalists to investigate the government's claim?
D. Want all three to investigate the evidence? 

On September 11, 2001, the collapse of the World Trade Center created an enormous cloud of dust and debris across Lower Manhattan.

The material included substances that posed significant health risks. Over the following years, first responders, residents, workers, and others exposed to the dust experienced serious health problems.

The government response to the air-quality question became controversial.

An EPA Inspector General investigation later concluded that the EPA's September 2001 statements about the safety of the air were made without sufficient data, and that White House officials influenced how the EPA communicated information to the public.

And now, 25 years later...

In September 2026, New York City released more than 170,000 pages of previously unavailable records concerning the air-quality response following 9/11. Reporting on the documents says they include evidence that city officials had concerns about hazardous conditions while public statements were reassuring.

1. What does a free press mean?
2. Why might government officials sometimes want information kept private?
3. What responsibility does the government have to tell citizens about dangers?
4. How can journalists hold powerful institutions accountable?
5. Can a democracy function without an independent press?
6. What should journalists do when government statements conflict with evidence?

Freedom of the Press

A press that is free to investigate and criticize the government is absolutely essential in a nation that practices self-government and is therefore dependent on an educated and enlightened citizenry.

Who said this?      Why is The Press Important?

 

On the other hand, newspapers too often take advantage of their freedom and publish lies and scurrilous gossip that could only deceive and mislead the people. Jefferson himself suffered greatly under the latter kind of press during his presidency. But he was a great believer in the ultimate triumph of truth in the free marketplace of ideas, and looked to that for his final vindication.

1) How is our Freedom of Press essential to our Democracy?

2) What does the 1st amendment say about Freeodom of Press?

3) In what ways is our Freedom of Press unique?

4) In what ways has the Press been limited throughout our History?

5) What were the 'Pentagon Papers' and how did they challenge the 1st Amendment?

With Great Power Comes Great Responsibility

This expression has been attributed to everyone from Voltaire to Uncle Ben in the Spider-Man comic book; but what does it mean?  

The phrase “Great powers bring great responsibilities” is said by Peter’s foster father and uncle, “Uncle Ben”, in the form of advice or warning. Ignoring what would be the last words he would hear from his uncle, Peter decides to employ his new superpowers to win money in a wrestling tournament. He wins the fight, but ends up being deceived by the event's promoter. When a thief steals the promoter’s money, Peter takes revenge by omission: he chooses to let the thief escape. He later learns that his uncle had been shot to death. He starts looking for the killer. When he finally finds him, the hero-in-the-making finds out that it was the same thief that he had let go. The fact naturally awakens a heavy sense of guilt and an acute sense of responsibility and heroism.  It is later repeated by Aunt Mae in Spider-Man: No Way Home.

What is the true origin of the saying?

What power does the media have?

What responsibility do we have to check it?

Lesson: Creating Healthy News Habits

The Influencing Machine

LISTEN TO THE STORY

What is the Influencing Machine?

Introduction Questions

Does the media really control people's minds?

What techniques do advertisers use?

What Is News?

Is this News?

How about these stories?

What makes one thing worth reporting, while another thing is not? We offer a test for news which can work in all societies. We consider what makes some news stories stronger than others. Finally, we look at how news comes to journalists, and the areas of life where we most often find it.

Look at today's Front Pages and Complete 'Where does news come from?'