Being linked to politics by virtue of my day-job, I try my best to keep up with what is politically happening around the state of Florida. As this is an election year, and the politicians/elected leaders are hopping all over, doing stuff, and as the legislative session draws to another close, I always try to stay informed. This is becoming harder and harder to do my civic duty to cast my vote responsibly, if I keep hitting pay-wall, after pay-wall while attempting to read the reputable state newspapers, which block their civic involvement stories from the general public. It is high time we re-consider the roll of the fourth estate, and their obligation and responsibility to the public. If you dont buy the excuse that we should run the government like a business... then neither should we allow the public press to block their public-service-related stories behind a pay-wall. It is in effect dumbing down the population that can not afford to pay to read about their elected officials conduct. Our constitution places a free and open press in a special category... while at the same time, we are allowing that very press to limit their readership by financial methods. This reminds me of the physician who speeds quickly by a fresh traffic accident so as not to stop and render medical assistance because of insurance concerns instead of for concern for someones well-being. The press with pay-walls is effectively turning their backs on an entire segment of our community by NOT allowing for the free and open distribution of important news that affects us all. Especially news about our elected officials. and I DONT think the press will EVER address their responsibility in this regard, unless we MAKE them do it.... Press ACCESS is an important issue to them, OUR access to the PRESS is far less important to them.
Posted on: Thu, 24 Apr 2014 13:01:23 +0000
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