There was a time when journalists and journalism were highly respected. So much so, that they were considered the “fourth estate” of our Republic. In fact, our Founding Fathers believed that a free and unhindered press was the very lifeblood of our democracy. Just look at what Benjamin Franklin (a publisher and printer of news himself) had to say: “No experiment can be more interesting than that we are now trying, and which we trust will end in establishing the fact, that man may be governed by reason and truth. Our first object should therefore be, to leave open to him all the avenues to truth. The most effectual hitherto found, is the freedom of the press.”
In 1841, Thomas Carlyle spoke of the press stating: “The importance of the press in a representative democracy is twofold: It informs the citizenry and also serves as a feedback loop between the government and voters.”
In short, the mainstream news in America was considered by many to be the last bastion of truth, and the safeguard between the people and the political class. They were the purveyors of truth. But both Franklin and Carlyle would be stunned and heartbroken if they witnessed what has become of the press today.
Today’s press has taken “yellow journalism” to a whole new level—no one can deny the collusion between the political elite and the mainstream media. Case in point: The New York Times.
Once upon a time, The New York Times was an illustrious “paper of record.” According to Wikipedia: The category typically consists of those newspapers that are considered to meet higher standards of journalism than most print media, including editorial independence and attention to accuracy, and are usually renowned internationally. Despite changes in society, such newspapers have historically tended to maintain a similar tone, coverage, style, and traditions.
But now, The New York Times has yet again needed to “fix” a story. This time it was about the 2016 FBI investigation into the Trump campaign. There was a time when newspapers actually printed retractions. Now, they simply issue a “correction,” regardless of the damage that has been done by their fake news story.
This time The New York Times had to issue a “correction” almost 18 months after the fact. Their correction addressed issues regarding its reporting accuracy and their printing of conclusions on an FBI investigation that had no factual corroboration. What were they investigating, you ask? The Russia collusion story.
In true irony, the paper was forced to admit they got the story wrong. Why? Because new information surfaced that directly contradicted its original story and its unsubstantiated conclusions. As FBI sources explained, “When the New York Times tried to assess the state of the investigation in 2016, law enforcement officials cautioned against drawing any conclusions.” However, the Times, rather than heed the advice of the agents conducting the investigation and their assessment indicating “no conclusive or direct link between Mr. Trump and the Russian government,” decided to exaggerate the story and publish anyway.
Fast forward to 2018, with the same players and the same story. We can once again clearly see The New York Times spinning facts. Or perhaps, it is something more sinister and they are specifically directing their narrative in order to meet a clear goal: Destroying President Trump and “manufacturing consent” like I discussed in a previous article.
Instead of accurately reporting the constantly changing landscape of the investigation, The New York Times decided to bury the most stunning piece of information in the middle of its 4,100-word article. Quite frankly, that little tidbit of information should have been headline news. What was this stunning new allegation? That the FBI had infiltrated the Trump campaign with “at least one government informant” spying and operating under the code name “Crossfire Hurricane.”
But they didn’t. Instead, they buried it. More troubling, though, is how they never even mentioned the most inflammatory part of the entire story. That, without question, the Obama administration used taxpayer dollars, and its counterintelligence operatives in the FBI, to “investigate” a private American citizen who, by the way, happened to be the opposing party of a presidential campaign.
The malfeasance and the law-breaking cannot be understated. Where is the US attorney general? Why is it not being investigated? This was appalling overreach by the top law enforcement agency in the country…and yet nothing is being done.
But this is just the beginning. To see the threat to our nation and the threat to our liberties we must look further. We move on to England and the fiasco that is erupting there. Because under the guise of “political correctness” and “hate speech,” our rights to the freedom of the press are being eroded, if not directly assaulted. The liberal media can print whatever they want, but heaven forbid a conservative or counterview point is published—it will be banned, labeled, and attacked.
Here is how far it can go: On May 25, 2018, outside of Leeds Crown Court, activist/journalist Tommy Robinson was arrested for “breaching the peace” by filming and reporting on an alleged Muslim “child grooming sex ring.”
As reported by Fox News, Robinson was arrested after the 10 gang members entered the court for trial, and was handed a 13-month prison sentence for violating a prior order. He was in trouble for what Americans take for granted—the “right to speak your mind” without fear of intimidation or arrest.
You see, in England, there really isn’t freedom of the press. In the UK, politicians, bureaucrats, and the courts can impose strict restrictions on your right to speak your mind. They can even censor the press and force them to remove anything that is too “embarrassing,” or worse…too nationalist. They can do this at will.
Robinson’s only crime for a 13-month prison sentence? Reminding the citizens of England how their country is being overrun by violent Muslim gangs who are unwilling to assimilate.
Robinson, former head of the English Defense League, is an outspoken critic of the open-door immigration policy of England. The blind acceptance of Muslim immigrants has culminated in street gangs, rape gangs, and a continued series of high-profile scandals involving Muslim-operated child sex rings…all of which are rocking England to its core.
This is the same thing I have been saying, repeatedly. The Muslim invasion of Europe is now happening in America. How soon before I am arrested in the name of hate speech or political correctness? How long before the “yellow journalists” start writing stories to downplay the threat to our nation, given that currently they haven’t really reported on it at all.
The citizens of England have been under siege by Muslims for years, yet leading government officials, including the courts and the press, are reluctant to act. So, when a concerned citizen makes it his mission to act and inform the citizenry, he is jailed? What gives?
Now consider how this is happening in America. Slowly but surely, our right to free speech is under constant attack in the name of “political correctness” and hate speech. Look at the treatment of Diamond and Silk, who were censored by Facebook without any credible reason, other than being labeled as “unsafe.”
Yet fake news and liberal media talking points, despite the vitriol and hate, get a free pass. Anybody remember Kathy Griffin and the severed head of Donald Trump? I don’t remember seeing that getting banned by Facebook.
Whether we like it or not, censorship, fake news, and yellow journalism is increasing at a frightening rate. Crooked and corrupt politicians are part of the political landscape and this is not likely to change. Crooked politicians have been around for as long as recorded history…probably longer. So who is going to hold them accountable? The issue here is whether or not the “mainstream media,” the self-described bastions of “truth,” ever regain the trust of the American people. Will they ever again hold the hallowed title of the Fourth Estate? Will they do their jobs? Because without a “free press” (the one that Benjamin Franklin was a part of and held in high esteem), America cannot survive as a free and open society. This is a clear and present danger to our nation.
