Blog Post #3: The Eight Values of Free Expression

(Watchdog Journalism).

What is the Watchdog Role?

The American Press Institute writes that "just over half (54 percent) think it's important that the press' act as a watchdog'" (Holding power accountable: The press and the public). But, according to the "Eight Values of Free Expression" from our constitution's First Amendment, one of the most critical is the "Check on Governmental Power" or the Watchdog Role of the American people and the press. The number of people who feel that the press has to monitor the government and call out the government for its missteps is dwindling. Even worse than this is the dwindling number of people who feel they also have the right to speak up about the government and make their voices heard. The American public believes that they have the right to question political figures, whether that be federal, state, or local, but only "thirty-four percent say that they are extremely confident they could question political leaders, thirty-five percent are moderately confident, and thirty percent are not too or at all confident" (Holding power accountable: The press and the public). 

 

The Watchdog Role of the media became highly prevalent during the 1960s when they began to "hold politicians accountable when they misbehave or try to deceive the public" (When did the media become a "watchdog?"). This was attributed to the Vietnam War and the public's reaction to the government's handling of it. But, this watchdog role has always existed in our American society, dating far back from the 1960s, and is known as one of the "Eight Values of Free Expression." 

The Division of the Watchdog Role

(Dog clipart images - free download on Freepik).

There is a split division between the American people's role in being watchdogs and our press. 

Firstly, the press is protected under the First Amendment and allowed to publish whatever they choose unless it blatantly violates the First Amendment. Most news organizations are private entities; thus, "they are free to promote whatever political, social, or economic view they wish" (The media's role as Watchdogs). Just as we learned about "prior restraint," there is also a concept of "prior review," which means that "news organizations cannot be ordered to let government agencies or officials review reporting before it is published" (The media's role as Watchdogs). This was how the American government found themselves in situations such as Watergate because the press was allowed to publish whatever they felt necessary to be shared with the public for the greater American good. 

Speaking of the American public, they also play a role in watchdog media. When they receive these pieces of information, they are allowed to have a reaction to the news they are receiving. This is how certain political leaders get voted out of office, or free and fair protests begin. It is all one big cycle of the American public keeping their voices heard and ensuring that their government does not become too big or too powerful.  

Real-Life Examples of the Watchdog Role

Back in the year of 2018, FBI Agent Peter Strzok was fired after text messages were leaked between him and a coworker discussing their dislike of former President Trump and, to make matters worse, exposing an affair between him and a female agent. You may think they are free to believe this way because of their First Amendment rights, but because Agent Strzok was working on the FBI's Russian collusion investigation, he was removed from the case and eventually fired from his job. The coming months were filled with congressional hearings and a sudden public distaste for the FBI. No one would have known of these illicit messages without the help of the American press' urge to keep all aspects of our government clean and the public's reaction that caused the government to, essentially, investigate itself to prevent a situation like this from happening again (Peter Strzok: How anti-trump texts ruined the career of the FBI's...). 

 My Personal Experience with the Watchdog Role

I felt that, for me, this was one of the most critical values listed for our "Eight Values of Free Expression" was the ability to "Check on Government Power" or the Watchdog Role. I spent much of my life being exposed to news in some format, and this has impacted how I view government and my beliefs.

 

In the past few years, I have witnessed how social media has impacted public perception of what is happening worldwide. I have seen my friends spread disinformation without knowing. The "Watchdog Role" is losing its power or abusing its ability to inform the American public when social media-based news organizations provide incorrect information and sway how they feel. 

 

Stanford University wrote that "Democratic governments are now seized with the fact that digital information platforms have been exploited by malign actors to spread propaganda and disinformation, wreaking havoc on democratic elections and eroding trust in the digital information realm" (What to know about disinformation and how to address it). There are now people who place either zero faith in the press or those who trust them too much and do not discern what they are hearing. They ignore it or take it at face value.

 

I feel that this theory causes the "watchdog role" to become less potent in keeping our government honest when we cannot even be sure we are receiving the truth of what they are doing in D.C.

 

Works Cited

“Dog Clipart Images - Free Download on Freepik.” Freepik, www.freepik.com/free-photos-vectors/dog-clipart. Accessed 24 Jan. 2024.

“The Media’s Role as Watchdogs.” Freedom Forum, 22 June 2023, www.freedomforum.org/freedom-of-press/the-medias-role-as-watchdogs/.

Peter Strzok: How Anti-Trump Texts Ruined the Career of the FBI’s ..., www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/you-stepped-in-it-here-how-anti-trump-texts-ruined-the-career-of-the-fbis-go-to-agent/2018/08/13/eb1868be-9401-11e8-a679-b09212fb69c2_story.html. Accessed 24 Jan. 2024.

Team, API. “Holding Power Accountable: The Press and the Public.” American Press Institute, 17 Nov. 2023, americanpressinstitute.org/holding-power-accountable-the-press-and-the-public/.

University, Stanford. “What to Know about Disinformation and How to Address It.” Stanford News, 22 Apr. 2022, news.stanford.edu/2022/04/13/know-disinformation-address/.

“Watchdog Journalism.” The New York Times, The New York Times, www.nytimes.com/column/learning-whats-going-on-in-this-picture. Accessed 22 Jan. 2024.

When Did the Media Become a “Watchdog?,” daily.jstor.org/when-did-the-media-become-a-watchdog/. Accessed 22 Jan. 2024.