July 24, 2005

To The Editor, Knoxville News-Sentinel:

I don't believe everything I read or hear in the press, especially corporate media.

It is because, too often, journalists are too close to the people they cover or would not want to lose a major advertiser and thus may not run a story that portrays the advertiser in a negative light.

They either don't report independently what politicians may say and are willing to look the other way when government officials engage in misconduct.

Worse, they do the government's public relations work for them. I gather this is more of an editorial issue than a reporting or business issue.

So it may be odd that I give New York Times reporter Judith Miller two thumbs up for sticking to her guns. U.S. District Judge Thomas Hogan in Washington has sent a disturbing message by jailing Miller and threatening Matthew Cooper of Time magazine: The government has the right to trample on the First Amendment when it is convenient, and if the press doesn't serve as the government's lapdog, there will be repercussions.

Specifically, this means the press shouldn't run anything that portrays the government in a negative light.

Will the people accept this gross misconduct by Judge Hogan, condemn it or remain silent? Only time will tell.

CHRIS FORTNER

Knoxville