Monterey County Weekly Publisher Erik Cushman talks about launching a new business venture. Like many startups, it imitates an already-successful operation: a line of ribbon-shaped bumper stickers that read, “Support Our Journalists.”
In all seriousness though, Thursday, Aug. 16, the Boston Globe is spearheading a nationwide initiative with newspapers large and small opining on the role of a free press in a democracy. Industry message boards indicate over 350 papers are expected to participate. In editorials, they spell out how the cavalier use of the terms “fake news” and “enemy of the people” do a grave disservice not just to your friends in the media business, but to the very fabric of civil society.
We launched the “Free Speech” feature of our Buzz Page right after President Donald Trump was elected. We weren’t so much clairvoyant of what was to come as proud of our place in a long history of people making a living utilizing the protections enshrined in the First Amendment.
To read all our reporting on press freedom (and to access the Globe collection), visit mcweekly.com/freepress.