A Free Press Is Fundamental to a Free Nation

"Men love darkness rather than light because their deeds are evil."--John 3:19

One of the most. significant features of the U.S. Constitution is the first 10 amendments to the United States Constitution known as the Bill of Rights. It could be argued that this is one of the more profound documents it history, guaranteeing fundamental individual freedoms while limiting government power.

Throughout our history we have witnessed assaults on these various tenets that were brilliantly and thoughtfully conceived by our Founding Fathers. To our benefit these attacks have been rebuffed. 

Today I'm thinking about one of the most important freedoms: freedom of the press, a freedom that is not universally shared. 

On Sunday March 8, the NYTimes editorial board published a feature editorial titled The Free Press Is Under Threat Globally.

The editorial argues that press freedom is deteriorating around the world and warns that democracy itself is at risk if independent journalism continues to weaken as governments increasingly use arrests, lawsuits, and intimidation to silence journalists. 

Record numbers of reporters are imprisoned today, particularly in authoritarian countries, creating a chilling effect on investigative work. At the same time, digital surveillance and unresolved violence have made journalism more dangerous. The piece concludes that a free press is essential to democracy, and that the United States must defend it both at home and abroad to maintain credibility. When journalists are silenced, corruption and abuse of power flourish. Protecting independent journalism, the board argues, should be a priority for governments and citizens everywhere.

Here's an excerpt: 

At least 330 journalists worldwide were in prison at the end of 2025, according to the Committee to Protect Journalists, up from fewer than 200 a decade ago. More than a third of them were serving sentences of five years or more. Nearly half remained behind bars despite never having been formally sentenced. One-fifth say they were tortured or beaten. An additional 129 members of the press died while doing their jobs or because of them, the highest number since records began in 1992. Among the worst offenders against press freedom have been China, Russia, Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, Israel, Myanmar, Sudan and Turkey.

A little further the Editorial Board stated:

The press faces challenges in freer societies, too. Israel's war in Gaza led to the arrest of almost 100 Palestinian journalists, often without charge, and at least twice that number were killed over two years, a toll without modern precedent. 

This latter statement is especially disconcerting. In addition to the elimination of hospitals and medical care, the targeting of journalists is undoubtedly one of the most troubling facets of the Gaza conflict. As I read the op-ed it brought to mind a Medium post I wrote in 2020, "The Real Reason They Punish Horse Thieves." 

As George Savile, Marquis of Halifax, noted, “Men are not hanged for stealing horses, but that horses may not be stolen.” Can this be the real reason they shoot journalists in Gaza or eliminate them elsewhere? 

The Watergate affair and My Lai massacre made heroes of journalists like Woodword and Bernstein and Sy Hersh. Their work inspired others to pursue this important profession.

Not all government leaders, however, want their deeds exposed. Fraud? Thievery? Corruption? War crimes? No wonder they shoot the messengers. 

The Old Testament prophet Jeremiah stated that the heart is deceitful above above all things. Even good kings can go bad. Thus the Times board concludes that a free press is essential to democratic accountability. 

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Read: The Real Reason They Punish Horse Thieves

Related: 

Judge Rules Pentagon Restrictions on Press Are Unconstitutional

Kenny Holston/The New York Times March 20, 2026

Comments welcome below.