The uncertain future for the traditional news mediums - newspapers, magazines, radio and television - is already being shaped by economic challenges.
Free Expression Stages by Michael Clutton ~ Jan 2009
According to the 2008 State of the First Amendment survey, 17% of Americans go to the web first for news. 50% of Americans claim they would be no worse off - possibly better - if electronic news completely replaced newspapers. In less than two decades, the Internet has matured from a curious fad into an all-consuming industry prompting the need for such unusual things as a cyber-czar.
The uncertain future for the traditional news mediums - newspapers, magazines, radio and television - is already being shaped by economic challenges. Many are on their way out - have already died or are being retuned to more localized versions.
The First Amendment was originally founded on the protection of speech, press, religion and the rights to assemble or petition. Created in 1791, much thought and deliberation was invested in the formation of these doctrines.
During its second century of existence, these basic freedoms were more defined and expanded from just a federal umbrella into specific state laws.
However, we're now in its third century of existence and the concepts formulated by our founding fathers so many years ago are now in another stage of transformation. In fact, technology is inducing change and metamorphosing these concepts at an alarming rate.
On the religious side, world religions - and non-belief groups - an imposing as much affect as the traditional Catholic, Jewish and Protestant groups that originally defined what Americans considered to be... wel...& religions.
As for free speech, it has literally become an oxy-moron concept. As our society slides deeper and deeper into a liberal quagmire of say anything - do anything - accept everything, free speech itself is transforming into the exact opposite. You can say anything or express any viewpoint as long as you don't do it publicly. The public and media quickly censor public expressions of free speech if it doesn't fall in line with what is considered to be politically correct.
Example: you can tell the world all the reasons you believe that gays should have the same rights as the mainstream population. No problem. In fact, you'll probably be praised for your open-minded support of their plight. But, express your beliefs about why they don't - or anything else anti-gay - and brace yourself for a barrage of criticism and hate mail.
What was once considered normal or traditional is now considered extreme or even uninformed - backward - out of touch.
Instant communications are impacting another side of the issue - assembly and petition. As evidence, one only needs to review the recent US election process, debates, fundraising and interviews. Internet "communities" are growing in popularity and strength as a major portion of what people do on the web. Similarly, these technologies are expanding and redefining the areas of free speech and press.
A few examples:
Powered by Internet overseas sales and publication, dozens of international libel lawsuits prompted attempts by U.S. lawmakers to preclude foreign defamation laws from being enforced unless the nations involved match free-speech guarantees provided in the U.S.
Missouri lawmakers recently enacted a bill to make cyber-bullying illegal. The bill was prompted in part by the suicide of a young girl as the apparent result of an online prank.
Barack Obama - already attracting 1.8 million donors, primarily through the Internet - became the first major candidate to bypass public funding as fuel for his campaign. Pundits soon claimed his success would end public financing and the need for campaign-contribution reforms.
One can only imagine what the headlines will read at the beginning of the 4th century of existence for the First Amendment - should it even survive that long. Check back in about 80 years or so.
