The First Amendment states "Congress shall make no law prohibiting the free exercise of; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances" 1. This is the guideline all the press follows, this is the status quo, and it is used as our shield to protect freedom. However, while it's completely legal to write almost whatever can be thought of, if one is in the "mass media news" 2, like so many of the twenty-four hour news channels remind people that they are in, then there are severe, self imposed, guidelines that they must follow. I believe that we, as the American public, must change the standard of news reporting, as well as what is considered news and what is considered political commentary. After doing research on the topic, as well as watching many of the twenty-four hour "news" channels, I've noticed many subtle, and some not-so-subtle undertones in a great deal of the reporting. People or groups who don't share the popular belief are quietly swept under the rug and are discredited by the "mass media news". This can't be allowed to happen, I find this practice appalling, and find that the common excuses used are deplorable. In fact, most of the information that I had to use as authorities, on the subject of media bias, was people who either formerly worked for the twenty-four hour news, or independent news sources, because many of the journalists working for the news organizations understood their organizations stances. If only the popular political views are to be aired on TV, because television companies only care about ratings and money, then does that make America much different than countries who have government sanctioned television, which is television that is not allowed to air stories or views that are contrary to the controlling government. That is the very thing America is liberating Iraq from, and perhaps it's about time that America liberates its media.
