How important is freedom of press?

[Atonement]

For many of us in modernized Western democracies, freedom of press seems really quite natural. However, in much of the world it is a concept that has yet to be realized and is actively repressed. This article prompted my question (http://www.foreignpolicy.com/articles/2013/05/01/the_10_worst_places_to_be_a_journalist) if you'd like to peruse it.

So, how important is freedom of press?

[naglfari]

Extremely in any democracy

[LuciferSam]

people should have the right to publish in print or on-line what they feel needs publishing. it may be wrong or heavily biased, but them's the breaks.

[xmojox]

It's important enough that it's included in the first amendment to the US Constitution.

[huginnmuninn]

A democracy cannot survive without freedom of press

[Atonement]

A democracy cannot survive without freedom of press

And if it is not a democracy? Then how much does it matter?

[britishboy]

VERY VEEY IMPORTANT! it would be terrible if we didn't have a free press

[riverboy]

It is very important to have a free press.

[tovaris]

A necesery part of a communist world.

[pjones]

freedom of the press allows criticism of government. if the press couldn't publish freely then people would never learn the truth.

[britishboy]

VERY VERY IMPORTANT I couldn't imagine life with out it

[Lofiel]

I laugh on the floor at this thread, no modern western country sees "free press". There is so much censorship and propaganda you can't even notice it anymore.

[britishboy]

I laugh on the floor at this thread, no modern western country sees "free press". There is so much censorship and propaganda you can't even notice it anymore.
give an example

[Stronk Serb]

give an example



CNN.

[britishboy]

CNN.

that's American but fair enough

[Stronk Serb]

Every normal country, be it communist or "democratic" needs freedom of press. Yet there still is censorship today, especially in western countries.

[britishboy]

Every normal country, be it communist or "democratic" needs freedom of press. Yet there still is censorship today, especially in western countries.

Western countries are famous for freedom of speech it's communism that's famous for propaganda herd of north Korea or China?

[Stronk Serb]

Western countries are famous for freedom of speech it's communism that's famous for propaganda herd of north Korea or China?



Yes. Heard eve of Yugoslavia? That was a free speech bastion.

[tovaris]

Western countries are famous for freedom of speech it's communism that's famous for propaganda herd of north Korea or China?

Korea and China are not communist countries.
Tel me where do they listen to newsreporters phone lines, where do they check what one is downloading, where do they make up all those censurship treaties?

[britishboy]

Korea and China are not communist countries.
Tel me where do they listen to newsreporters phone lines, where do they check what one is downloading, where do they make up all those censurship treaties?

the media are not allowed to do that and yes I know they have been and they are in deep shit and do you mean internet police? they don't monitor everyone or everything only terrorists and pedos and people who go on websites like 'how to make and hide a bomb' and many bad people have been arrested by internet police, and if you feel you have been mistreated you can go to the police complaints commition (or however you spell it lol) and you can actually get money as compensation.

and they both are look:
http:// geography.about.com/od/lists/tp/communistcountries.htm

[Harry Smith]

Korea and China are not communist countries.
Tel me where do they listen to newsreporters phone lines, where do they check what one is downloading, where do they make up all those censurship treaties?

That's not freedom of speech, that's called surveillance. And North Korea is very communist

[tovaris]

the media are not allowed to do that and yes I know they have been and they are in deep shit and do you mean internet police? they don't monitor everyone or everything only terrorists and pedos and people who go on websites like 'how to make and hide a bomb' and many bad people have been arrested by internet police, and if you feel you have been mistreated you can go to the police complaints commition (or however you spell it lol) and you can actually get money as compensation.

and they both are look:
http:// geography.about.com/od/lists/tp/communistcountries.htm

In usa news just got out how their goverment ese dropped on news reportesr phones.
Why does Asange have to hide and fear the americans?

They are in the best case a low form of basic social-totaliarisem.

[tovaris]

That's not freedom of speech, that's called surveillance. And North Korea is very communist

Yes the w block restrictes fredom of speech.

[britishboy]

In usa news just got out how their goverment ese dropped on news reportesr phones.
Why does Asange have to hide and fear the americans?

They are in the best case a low form of basic socialisem.

I can't comment on the American media as I have only been there on holidays but they can't be that bad they are britians closest and most powerful allie

[tovaris]

I can't comment on the American media as I have only been there on holidays but they can't be that bad they are britians closest and most powerful allie

im not talking about the media im talking about how its restricted

[britishboy]

im not talking about the media im talking about how its restricted

well in britian our news can't swear, show uncensored nudity or distressing images, promote ileage activity, or try to change peoples views (propaganda)

[Harry Smith]

im not talking about the media im talking about how its restricted

You don't understand English... There is a difference between watching something e.g surveillance and stopping it completely

[tovaris]

You don't understand English... There is a difference between watching something e.g surveillance and stopping it completely

Surveillance leads to stopping what one doesn't like.

well in britian our news can't swear, show uncensored nudity or distressing images, promote ileage activity, or try to change peoples views (propaganda)

But they can spy on people.

[Harry Smith]

Surveillance leads to stopping what one doesn't like.



But they can spy on people.

What are you talking about, the freedom of a newspaper to write a story or civil liberties?

[britishboy]

Surveillance leads to stopping what one doesn't like.



But they can spy on people.

they can't, only the police and secret services can if they do they will get prosecuted, currently there's a police investigation into media companies as they have been spying on people, I think you have got confused with them breaking the law and the law allowing it.

[Stronk Serb]

That's not freedom of speech, that's called surveillance. And North Korea is very communist



North Korea is not even 40% communist organised. They are isolated, living 10 years backwards. The surveillance service's eyes and ears are everywhere, in everyone's privacy. The people are being opressed in general. That is not pure communism. That is not even socialism. That is despotism. The Kim-Jong family is ruling for three generations already.