Freedom of the press is protected by the first amendment, or at least it is supposed to be. Today’s press is under fire. Constantly called fake news, outlets all across the world are questioned when someone doesn’t like what is reported whether that information is true or not. Yes, there are lots of outlets reporting gossip and making stuff up as they go along. We easily identify those outlets and somewhere along the line they usually believe they have an ounce of truth somewhere in their story. Who am I to tell them otherwise? On the flip side, there are several outlets that do tons of fact checking before they put out articles so that people know they are doing their best to be fair and above board.
In our current political climate, many reputable news outlets are continuously called fake news. On the other hand, there are others whose facts don’t always seem verifiable and they are touted as the real news because they follow the agenda of the people who agree with them. This is sad because real journalism requires a lot of work. Reporters have given up their personal lives to chase a story while making sure they get as many facts as possible Nothing is perfect and journalism certainly isn’t, but it’s what we have and we still need it. We need a press that is not afraid to challenge the status quo. We need a press that will hold public officials accountable to things they’ve said or done. We need a press that is free to investigate what they need to investigate so that the freedom of information continues to flow unencumbered.
Now we know that there are some unscrupulous folks out there and many of the celebrities call them Paparazzi. This is not the group of people I’m talking about, yet we also must acknowledge they would not be so hungry and crazy for information if there wasn’t a market for it in the first place. Instead, though, this discussion is about outlets like those who have been in print, on television and online for decades. They have the right to continue to thrive and no elected official should have the right to say otherwise because they don’t like what’s being said. No one should be kicked out of the White House press room simply because the questions being asked are uncomfortable. This is both petty and immature at best and downright deceitful at worst.
To make sure we have a fair representation on what is really happening we must support our free press. Because of them, we have all benefitted from truths uncovered, freedoms expressed and news that has made all of our lives different. Support the efforts through subscriptions, adding comments, writing to the editor to let them know you’re happy they exist and even becoming contributors to publications like this one when you can.
–***
What’s Next? Talk with others. Take action.
We are proud of our SOCIAL INTEREST GROUPS—WEEKLY PHONE CALLS to discuss, gain insights, build communities— and help solve some of the most difficult challenges the world has today. Calls are for Members Only (although you can join the first call for free). Not yet a member of The Good Men Project? Join below!
All levels get to view The Good Men Project site AD-FREE. The $50 Platinum Level is an ALL-ACCESS PASS—join as many groups and classes as you want for the entire year. The $25 Gold Level gives you access to any ONEÂ Social Interest Group and ONE Class–and other benefits listed below the form. Or…for $12, join as a Bronze Member and support our mission, and have a great ad-free viewing experience.
Register New Account
Please note: If you are already a writer/contributor at The Good Men Project, log in here before registering. (Request new password if needed).
◊♦◊
ANNUAL PLATINUMÂ membership ($50 per year) includes:
1. AN ALL ACCESS PASS — Join ANY and ALL of our weekly calls, Social Interest Groups, classes, workshops and private Facebook groups. We have at least one group phone call or online class every day of the week.
2. See the website with no ads when logged in!
3. MEMBER commenting badge.
*** ANNUAL GOLD membership ($25 per year) includes all the benefits above — but only ONE Weekly Social Interest Group and ONE class.
*** ANNUAL BRONZE membership ($12 per year) is great if you are not ready to join the full conversation but want to support our mission anyway. You’ll still get a BRONZE commenting badge, and you can pop into any of our weekly Friday Calls with the Publisher when you have time. This is for people who believe—like we do—that this conversation about men and changing roles and goodness in the 21st century is one of the most important conversations you can have today.
♦◊♦
We have pioneered the largest worldwide conversation about what it means to be a good man in the 21st century. Your support of our work is inspiring and invaluable.
Aleasa Word is an emotional intelligence coach, speaker, author, and consultant. She is a former editor of the Raising Boys Section of the Good Men Project and continues to provide content to support the efforts for the purpose of ensuring all men and those who care for them have a voice in support of their success.
