Wanted: Principled Leadership

.

“We cannot afford to abdicate America’s long-standing role as the defender of human rights and democratic principles throughout the world. Without strong leadership in the White House, Congress must commit to protecting independent journalism, preserving an open and free media environment, and defending the fundamental right to freedom of opinion and expression.”

—John McCain, U.S. senator, R-Arizona, “Mr. President, stop attacking the press,” The Washington Post, Jan. 16, 2018. Image: Nigel Parry/NYMag 

• Editorial Comment: This is a good, clear-eyed, principled op-ed, Sen. McCain. It’s worth a read. But in what universe would this Congress actually do that?

• Related: Committee to Protect Journalists: “Trump Attacks Provide Cover for Record Journalist Imprisonments,” December 2017.

PeezPix by Ted Pease

Seagrass







Get TODAY'S WORD ON JOURNALISM in your email every weekday morning during WORD season. This is a free “service” sent to the 2,000,000 or so misguided subscribers around the planet, to infinity and beyond. If you have recovered from whatever illness led you to subscribe and don’t want it anymore, send “unsubscribe” to ted.pease@gmail.com. Or if you want to afflict someone else, send me the email address and watch the fun begin. (Disclaimer: I just quote ’em, I don’t necessarily endorse ’em. But all contain at least a kernel of insight. Don’t shoot the messenger.) #tedsword
 
Ted Pease, Professor of Interesting Stuff, Trinidad, California. (Be)Friend The WORD

“I don’t think writers are sacred, but words are. They deserve respect. If you get the right ones, in the right order, you can nudge the world a little.” —Tom Stoppard