Il 16 agosto oltre duecento testate statunitensi, compresi alcuni dei grandi network digital/tv/radio, usciranno insieme con editoriali stigmatizzando la campagna di Trump contro i media come ‘nemici del popolo’, ‘fake news’ e immondizia del genere.Un evento così non si è mai verificato in passato.
Prsa, la Public relations association of America, per la prima volta nella sua lunga storia, uscirà con un testo di pieno sostegno nel quale, dirà più o meno così (il testo finale è in fase di definizione):
“The basis of our governments being the opinion of the people, the very first object should be to keep that right; and were it left to me to decide whether we should have a government without newspapers or newspapers without a government, I should not hesitate a moment to prefer the latter.”
Thomas Jefferson
This oft-cited quote conveys the fundamental importance of today’s free press despite its articulation before electronic, digital and social media were invented. The dramatic expression by a government leader who was brutally criticized by the media of his time underscores that the standing of free press transcends politics, geographies or other affiliations.
Today we join with our counterparts in the news media to proudly affirm the Fourth Estate as a vital engine of democracy. Without it, and without unrestricted thought and expression, informed decision-making is not possible and individual freedoms suffer.
As organizations devoted to professionals in different sectors of the communications industry, we are dependent on a free press and the First Amendment, and rely upon them as we speak honestly and fearlessly on behalf of ourselves, our companies, clients and causes. A free press provides citizens access to information and opinions so they can make their own judgments.
We declare our support for journalists and communications professionals who bravely fight for the truth, bring facts to light, and hold government, business and other institutions accountable.
