Call for action to protect free press: Publish editorial next week on dangers of Trump’s attack on journalism


Below is a statement from Michelle Rea who was elected president of the Newspaper Association Managers last week. She is executive director of the New York Press Association/New York Press Service. NAM is the membership organization of state, regional and national press associations across the U.S. and Canada.

 

“The slander of “fake news” has become Donald Trump’s most potent tool of abuse and incitement against the First Amendment, labeling journalists the “enemy of the American people” and “dangerous and sick.”

“This dirty war on the free press must end. The Boston Globe is reaching out to editorial boards across the country to propose a coordinated response. The Globe proposes to publish an editorial on or around Aug. 16 on the dangers of the administration’s assault on the press and ask others to commit to publishing their own editorials on the same date. Publications, whatever their politics, could make a powerful statement by standing together in the common defense of their profession and the vital role it plays in government for and by the people.

“The impact of Trump’s assault on journalism looks different in Boise than it does in Boston. Our words will differ. But at least we can agree that such attacks are alarming.

“A free and independent press is one of the most sacred principles enshrined in the Constitution. Join The Globe to help make sure it stays so.

“Please email Marjorie Pritchard, deputy editorial page editor at The Globe, at marjorie.pritchard@globe.com if you’ll be participating.”

Michelle K. Rea
Executive Director
New York Press Association/ New York Press Service

 

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *