Does North America need freedom of the press?

Does North American press need freedom of the press? The press in North America does not require freedom to operate. In the current "democratic" system, the press will always function without limitation. The commercial character of the press guarantees it. What North American press needs instead is a good market. Unlike European news press which is supported by the ideological and political parties, and is used not only to inform but to influences by providing deep opinions, analysis and ideology, American press is financed by the market and therefore, responsible for nothing more but providing profit. Profit, and not information drives the content of American newspapers or magazines. And since best profit is derived from the product that has the widest market share, news and information is directed toward the majority. The information and opinions delivered by newspapers in America is a product for sale. The product, in order to be sold, has to be accepted by the buying power of the majority, and therefore the news and opinions are formatted so the customer buys it. Journalists do not present their own point of view, but adjust to the point of view of customers. This premise prevailed during many world events. Every time something happens in the world, the papers follow public opinion. They do not want to offend readers with some controversial point of view, because they do not want to loose readers. When NATO attacked Yugoslavia in 1999, all the papers jumped to support USA government and its actions, and resigned from any type of a deeper analysis or investigation of the problem. As long as public opinion was concentrated on the Balkan problem, the papers provided formatted information in support of the NATO stand. There were few mentions of the actual issues, and reasons for the war, for the public would not accept any negativity of the USA policies. With the time, however, when the interest in the war shifted toward antiwar movements, suddenly, the questioning of the war became visible. It was allowed to happen, for the readership attitudes changed, and not vice-versa. The freedom of the press was needed at some time in history, to support "democratic" expression of ideas. But since commercialization of the information media, the freedom of the press became irrelevant. Political system in America shifted toward totalitarian "democracy" of majority, and since commercial newspapers cater this majority, they do not need any legal protection. News papers are a part of the governing body.

© Nihil Novi, 2000