Journalists, free speech, under attack

Free speech brings with it great responsibility, whether the media is television, radio, newspaper, magazines, or blogs and the internet. We take that freedom for granted here in the United States. Some who express their opinions pay with loss of their jobs, imprisonment, or with their lives. Here are just a few examples that came to my attention today.

Canadian radio correspondent suspended for war bias, from Shlemazl , Old War Dogs, and Hot Air

Radio Canada claims that Christine St-Pierre was suspended for expressing "controversial opinions". I have a little trouble comprehending this. Since when was supporting Canadian soldiers Controversial? -- Shlemazl

Here’s her bio at Radio-Canada. I doubt they’ll pay much attention to e-mails in English (especially from Americans), but if you want to try, the relevant address is ombudsman@radio-canada.ca. -- Hot Air

My take, she will probably be better off once the smoke clears. She can find another, better job or write independently. Hopefully she will not have any trouble finding a new job.

In Part 4 of a series at BlackFive, Laughing Wolf looks at the history of free discourse:

Though it stands on its own, you can also think of this as the fourth installment of Saving Pvt. Journalism. I have been wanting to do this for some time, as it lies at the heart of the great experiment that is America.

The founding fathers took part in, and encouraged, a concept known as rational discourse. Since there was not the mass entertainment of today to occupy them, there were discussions and presentations held at dinner parties, gatherings at taverns and other public places, and even at theatres. [snip]

As I stated earlier, the exchange of ideas was the heart of the process. The soul of the process was the ability to change minds. It was expected that when presented with facts and information that showed a position to be untenable, that the person presenting it would concede such and change positions. [snip]

The press, as opposed to The Media, was intended to play a crucial role in the process of rational discourse in America. It was to be a means of providing the news, the facts which needed to be considered by one and all. [snip]

It is a critical process, and is key to ensuring and expanding our freedoms, as well as continuing the great experiment that is America. (more)

With Laughing Wolf's comments in mind, today I read 'the U.S. government paid at least 10 journalists in southern Florida tens of thousands of dollars for coverage that undermined Fidel Castro's communist government in Cuba'.

The Miami Herald has fired three journalists who received payments from the U.S. Office of Cuba Broadcasting.

All three journalists were fired after the Herald learned about their conflict of interest. Each had received payments from the U.S. government, apparently for appearing as guests on radio and TV broadcasts run by the U.S. Office of Cuba Broadcasting.

Robert Beatty, the newspaper's general counsel and vice president of public affairs, cited a need for trust, accuracy and integrity, saying, "we are compelled to act, and to act decisively, and we did."

Beatty says the employees worked for the El Nuevo newspaper, a Spanish-language publication owned by the Herald.

Seven other Miami journalists also received regular payments from the government, ranging from $1,500 to almost $170,000 since 2001. The reporters apparently appeared on TV Marti or Radio Marti, two broadcasts run by the U.S. Office of Cuba Broadcasting. NPR

From Baghdad, via MotherJonesBlog, 'the Iraqi government on Thursday ordered Arabic satellite network Al-Arabiya to shut down its Baghdad operations for one month, state television reported'.

Al-Arabiya said Iraqi police later arrived at its offices to enforce the order. ... [snip]

Al Maliki's office said AA put out news reports that "capitalize on the footage of victims of terrorist attacks," and called on media outlets to "respect the dignity of human beings and not to fall in the trap set up by terrorist groups who want to petrify the Iraqi people." (Didn't John Ashcroft say something similar about US media a few years back...?) Recall, the Iraqi government shut down the Baghdad news office of Al-Jazeera in August 2004. It remains closed. source

While we are on the subject of free speech, Gina Cobb reports, 'In Academia, "Free Speech" Means Handing the Microphone to Genuine Evil':

Little Green Footballs notes:

If you ever need a one-sentence encapsulation of the morally blinkered, hopelessly naïve outlook of America’s higher education czars, this statement from Harvard Kennedy School dean David Ellwood will serve perfectly: Harvard dean stands by Khatami invitation. (more)

A blogger fights for his life, via Infidel Bloggers Alliance

One of the co-bloggers of both the IBA and of my own blog Liberty and Justice, Isaac Schrodinger is currently involved in the fight of his life. Better said: a fight for his life.

As all of you who have read (some of) his articles will know, Isaac is very critical about radical Islam. He witnessed the results of a culture of radical Islam, he saw the effects of this ideology of hatred and ignorance, how people are forced to live, first-hand. As a result, he understands that Muslim extremists do not just pose a threat to the West, but also to every single person living in 'Muslim countries'. [snip]

He is currently involved in the battle of his life: in January 2007 one judge will decide whether he should be granted refugee status in Canada or be deported to Pakistan.

You can help. If you have links to relevant article about the treatment of apostates / not-good-Muslims / etc. in Pakistan or just want to show Isaac your support, please use the e-mail button at his blog, drop it off in one of the comment sections at his blog and or just leave a link or even simply a word of support in the comment section here.

Free speech. Freedom to say whatever we want? Freedom to share ideas, to change the minds of others? Freedom to express the truth, lies, or to show death and torture of fellow human beings?

With freedom comes responsibility and for some their very lives. We should not treat this responsibility lightly.

Comments

[Debbie]

No shlemazl, she shouldn't HAVE to look for another job, she should be able to keep her present job and write what she feels is appropriate. But IF she is not able to do that, I simply meant that she might find the freedoms of speech she so loves and needs somewhere else.

[shlemazl]

No! She should not have to look for a new job! That would be a surrender to an attack on the freedom of speach and would redefine what's acceptable.