To say that Ill. governor, Rod Blagojevich, has gotten himself into some trouble lately is an understatement. Not only has he been involved in a corruption scandal, attempting to sell President-elect Obama's senate seat, but it seems he has also been threatening the Tribune.
With The Tribune filing bankruptcy Monday, the company is already in financial trouble, without the efforts of Blagojevich. The Times reported tonight that Blagojevich had been threatening the Chicago Tribune because of negative comments printed in the editorial section of the paper. He planned to disrupt The Tribune's efforts to sell the Cubs & Wrigley stadium, which would provide the Tribune with much need money during this economic crisis.
First of all, as a representative of the government, shouldn't Blagojevich know the Constitution? Press is protected by the 1st amendment, even children in jr. high could tell him that. And since when does the press listen to government officials on who to keep on staff?
America would not be a democracy without the freedom of the press, even the freedom to call for Blagojevich's impeachment. In The Times' article it said, "The writers were not fired, the editorial page continued to take on the governor, Tribune editors said Tuesday that they were not aware of any pressure from the governor’s office, and the company said it did not do the governor’s bidding."
One of the purposes of journalism is to be a watchdog, and that is what the Tribune has done. Even if Sam Zell did run The Tribune into the ground, at least he did not monitor the editorial section. In Bill Kovach and Tom Rosenstiel's Elements of Journalism said,"As history showed us, it more properly means watching over the powerful few in society on behalf of the many to guard against tyranny."
"This logically implies that the press should recognize where powerful institutions are working effectively, as well as where they are not. How can the press purport to monitor the powerful if it does not illustrate the successes as well as the failures?"
Kovach and Rosenstiel go on to say later, "It is the implied covenant with the public...The notion that those who report the news are not obstructed from digging up and telling the truth- even at the expense of the owner's other financial interests-it is a prerequisite of telling the news not only accurately but persuasively."
Though it might be a financial cost for journalists and the press to speak against government officials and report on the failures of those officials, it is our job and duty to the public. How else can we prove as an honest and credible source?
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