The freedom of the American press is an object many of us cherish. We proudly compare ourselves to other countries using the standard of the perception that we have perceived unabridged liberty of expression in our media. Despite this, the freedom of our press is more hype than reality. With the exception of a few independent newsletters and micro publishers there is no free press in America. The illusion of freedom of the press has perhaps never been better articulated by anyone than journalist John Swinton. In the late 19th century, he was honored a banquet given him by his peers. A toast was made by one of his fellows to the independent press. Swinton then responded with the truth about what he had learned about the American press: Read more...
