Sunshine Week

As a journalism and political science major at the University of Rhode Island, I am aspiring to be the most well-informed, active voice I can be. The threat of limitations on the First Amendment of the United States leaves me wondering if my career goals are, or will someday be, out of reach.

The 21^st century has been a time of fear and uncertainty for American citizens. Prior to the brutal attacks by terrorists on September 11, 2001, many Americans viewed our country as invincible. Probably the majority of the people of the United States did not realize how vulnerable our country actually was.

American journalists of today have assumed the responsibility of informing our citizens of the beneficial as well as the controversial happenings of our government. It is imperative that the citizens of the United States know everything about the governing authority in which we as a people have entrusted with our safety. In turn, citizens can feel safer as well as more aware of possibilities of an attack such as the devastating ones that have struck our nation. The single most dangerous state that Americans can be in, is one lacking any significant knowledge. The less citizens know, the more vulnerable, fearful, and uncertain they feel.

Philosophers have been emphasizing the importance of the access to information about the government for centuries. In the 17^th century, John Locke wrote On Government: The Second Treatise. He believed that the people of a civil and just society have the right to select those who govern them, and have the power to replace the leaders as they see fit. Limited access to information about the government would defy this right, as they would not be aware of all unfavorable governing and would not have the ability to overthrow the government as they would otherwise do. 19^th century philosopher Tunis Wortman followed in Locke’s footsteps when he expressed his thoughts that the government’s job is to work for the people and in turn it is the press’s main obligation to inform the people of government actions so the people can ultimately make informed decisions regarding their governing force. In A Treatise Concerning Political Enquiry and Liberty of the Press, 1801, Tunis Wortman says, “Knowledge is the only guardian which can prevent us from becoming the vassals of tyranny and the dupes of imposture. Investigation is dangerous to the systems which are founded on despotism and corruption, but it confers additional energy on those that are established upon the genuine foundation of the truth...” Here, he is simply stating that if a government is not corrupt, than there is nothing to hide. Therefore, it should not be an issue, whether or not journalists can expose all government information.

“Our liberty depends on the freedom of the Press, and that cannot be limited without being lost (Thomas Jefferson, 1786).”