Press freedoms should matter to all of us

Published 8:00 am Wednesday, March 15, 2017

This week is Sunshine Week, a time set aside to reflect on the power of the press and its importance in our democracy. The First Amendment states: “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.”

Those words engrained in our constitution set us apart from other nations where these types of freedoms are often thwarted or non-existent. Our nation’s founders knew what they had in mind when they included press freedoms in the First Amendment as a means for checks and balances within our system of power. Otherwise, we would be like those other nations where the voice of the people is silenced, government is far from transparent, and decisions are masked from the general public.

In our country, the press exists to shine the light. Even in periods of backlash and scrutiny from our leaders and the public at-large, the press must still shine freely as a vital piece of our democracy.

Shining a light in dark places where the public has a right to know is what makes Sunshine Week of such value to us all.

Even as legislation on open meetings access and public notices restricts access in other states throughout the country, we must all value our right to know and our freedom of the press to maintain access to this kind of valuable information — because it’s the public’s right to know.

These are the laws that help us know whether there are burglaries in our neighborhoods or if a convicted sex offender lives down the street. These are the laws that show us how our tax dollars are spent. These are the laws that give us access to information on what type of business is going up next door to our property and our schools. These are the laws give us access to back door deals that some don’t want us to know about, and others choose to ignore.

Even when we are not fond of the press or when we disagree on coverage, we must uphold press freedoms and the rights our First Amendment grants as part of our democracy. We warrant a critical eye as media, and so deserved. If we wish to examine other entities with scrutiny then we must accept that the tables can be turned on us as well. That doesn’t mean, however, that we should be shut out simply because the press or information we provide is less than flattering. Yes, we should be champions of our community and share good news about local happenings. But we must also be watchdogs — we can and should be both.

Sunshine Week is a reminder that transparency and open government isn’t just about media — it’s about all of us.

We all must champion our right to know.

We must remember that there is strength in numbers and when we all stand behind the principles Sunshine Week aims to promote we all are better for it.