One of the strategies used by autocratic leaning political groups is to discredit the free press. Convince people that they and only they know the truth and anything to the contrary are lies and distortions.

Thank goodness we have a newspaper that believes in freedom of the press and especially freedom of speech: the Herald and Review. Editorials and letters to the editor show a healthy mix of ideas, from conservative to liberal and everything in-between.

Today we have a president who makes statements like "The only quote that matters is a quote from me." as published in an article by Margaret Talbot in the Sept. 28, 2016 addition of the "lying" New Yorker Magazine. He wants us to believe the national media is out to get him when they simply publish things he says. Now just recently he tweeted that all negative polls about him are fake news. His surrogates aren't any better. Steve Bannon recently told the press to "shut up and listen." All this in an effort to engender doubt and mistrust in our free press to make us believe he and only he speaks the "truth."

Controlling the press is the first step to controlling the country. In recent months, we have been exposed to "fake news," alternative facts, personal attacks on reporters, demonization of mainstream media and efforts to discredit entire electronic news outlets and their reporters. These are essentially attacks on the First Amendment of our Constitution and they must not be allowed to stand. Facts are facts and are backed up by evidence and critical analysis from verifiable sources.

It is our duty as Americans to learn the true facts by critically reading or listening to more than one source of news, be it newspaper, television, radio, public and commercial and yes even the internet. Our freedom depends on it.

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Support the freedom of the press - Herald & Review (blog)