Page 207 - Beers With Our Founding Fathers

A Patriot’s view of the history and direction of our Country

– and certainly to make you think. That is Freedom of Speech and

Freedom of Press.
Investigative journalism – to seek and report the facts, possibly

the truth. You cannot ascertain the truth without facts. It is to do
so without bias or prejudicial intent. But, throughout history – bias

has and continues to happen. Perhaps the investigative journalist
should take an oath with their byline – to provide the truth, the

whole truth and nothing but the truth as best they have ascertained
through factual investigation and information. The power of the

media is intellectually vast. It reaches every person in every corner
of the world, and with each bounce from person to person, in any

form, comes a tiny bit of information adulteration.
Opinion editorials – to provide an opinion, factual or otherwise

using parody to complete bias – with intent of persuasion. There is
no other reason. They are opinions, perhaps based on facts and

experiences; perhaps based on emotion. Most often, it is a
combination. None of us are immune from composing or reading

them. We are doing it together right now. Like investigative
journalism – they are invaluable. They impart information that may

provoke thought in others – prompting the realization of an
emotional process, and perhaps for the reader to seek their own

information and path to the truth.
These two primary forms of communicating with the masses,

the purpose of the press, are invaluable. Historically, the press has

been used to publish grievances, announce discoveries, assemble
people for a common cause, and inform the masses. Historically, it
was expensive to print and only the wealthy had books. Even with

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