“Our liberty depends on the freedom of the press, and that cannot be limited without being lost” –Thomas Jefferson

With a growing sense of distrust in the media from all sides of the political spectrum, one begins to analyze its role in educating the masses. Many questions have arisen, such as:  Should I allow myself to listen to sources that I know are biased? What is an authentically non-biased news source? What would happen if bias in the media is made forbidden?

Should I allow myself to listen to sources that I know are biased?

The answer, at least in my opinion, is yes. However, it is imperative to listen to a multitude of opinions. Find different sources, with different opinions, and read thoroughly and with careful consideration. Only then make an educational and accurate judgement on the topic at hand. While doing so, however, you will have discovered the opinions of others, and their reasons for believing in their respective causes. This will teach an essential lesson on not only tolerance, but the danger of ignorance.

What is an authentically non-biased source?

While researching this topic, I have encountered many discrepancies. However, according to makeuseof.com, here is a list of the news sources most frequently cited as being non-biased. Information has been quoted from makeuseof.com.

1. The Associated Press– “Founded in 1846, is a renowned global news organization with 52 Pulitzer Prizes under its belt. It is and has always been the epitome of clear and unbiased global journalism and reporting”
2. Google News–“Google News isn’t so much a news organization as it is a collection of news sources generated at least partially by a news-gathering algorithm, similar to how Google runs its flagship search engine.”
3. Pew Research Center— “Even during heated election years, you’ll find the polls, surveys, and research conducted by this organization to be accurate and truthful. It is self-described as a “nonpartisan fact tank”, and that’s exactly what it is.”

What would happen if bias in the media is made forbidden?

From Missouri’s Lincoln University, “Free speech is an indispensable tool of self-governance in a democratic society. It enables people to obtain information from a diversity of sources, make decisions, and communicate those decisions to the government.”

Ultimately, journalism is an essential of democracy, as it offers ordinary citizens the chance to express themselves, and to criticize an institution in need of reform. Without it, the government could choose to control the content relayed to the public, which could potentially be very separate from the truth.

In Fahrenheit 451, Ray Bradbury speculates the society that would emerge out of the complete restriction of free press. Ultimately, the civilians were unknowingly involved in a government controlled regime, in which they knew nothing of their history, or even their country. This led to an inevitable loss of human understanding and connection, that can only come from an informed society.

More than that, however, a society without free press is susceptible to complete dictatorship, as seen with Adolf Hitler’s rise to power. One of the first steps in forming a successful dictatorial regime is to cut off communication to the innocent civilians.

According to The Learning Site run by illustrator and educator, Dan and Kikit Guillano, “On October 4^th 1933 the Reich Press Law stated that all journalism had to be ‘racially clean.’ Any Jewish and liberal editors and journalists were sacked and all remaining editors had to take a Nazi citizenship test…” Restricting free press gave Hitler considerable advantage over the lives of the people: Those who knew about the cruel acts of Hitler were in favor of them (or forced to subscribe due to fear), and those who would otherwise protest were made unaware. What a perfect method to reaching world-wide domination.

As our society becomes increasingly more distrustful of the media, let it be known that those who *respectfully* conjure their strong opinions in public outlets (regardless of political faction) are protecting an American right as old as the country and the principals and laws we stand behind.