To me in many ways the press has been, since the Vietnam War, trying to set itself up as an institution outside and above the rest of society–in many ways reminiscent of the medieval Church from the late 11th through early 14th centuries. Its successful efforts in turning public opinion around with the Vietnam War combined with its role in bringing down the presidency of Richard Nixon has encouraged it to develop a conception of itself as the ultimate moral authority as regards government and society just as Gregory VII and other popes claimed. Later, we have the media claiming credit for bringing about the Israeli-Egyptian peace treaty giving it even more of a political dimension as an international arbiter–again shades of the medieval papacy. Efforts on the part of the media to encourage legislation shielding reporters from revealing confidential sources plus laws in countries such as France permitting the media to sue those who challenge its reporting further this notion of the media attempting to establish itself as a separate class governed by its own rules, exempt from the rules of the rest of society–again just like the medieval clergy.

This evolutionary process was moving along relatively smoothly until a monkey wrench was thrown into the process: the internet and the active blogosphere that has evolved. Blogs such as this one, LGF, Michelle’s and others have disrupted this movement and we’re seeing the media attempting through publicity, legislation, and other means to neutralize these challenges. It’ll be interesting to see whether the media succeeds in its goal or not–hopefully for all concerned, it doesn’t.

Matt Helm on December 5, 2006 at 1:48 PM

But the Church was trying to preserve the civilization at least, not undermine it.

True. One of the things I always try to do in the classes I teach is to dispell the misconception of the Church as an institution out to suppress all learning and knowledge. While it could and did suppress knowledge on occasions (Galileo, Copernicus), more often than not, churchmen were at the forefront of learning: Roger Bacon, William of Ockham, Peter Abelard, are just few examples.

Returning to the topic: I agree that the President and his administration has dropped the ball on dealing with leakers to the press and as well as dealing with the NY Times which has willfully, and I might add maliciously, published classified documents putting lives at risk. I firmly believe in a free press–it is necessary element for a free society to exist. But with freedom comes responsibility. The press is a part of society–it is not outside or above it, and it has the duty to act in a responsible manner and not put our society at risk. The actions of the Associated Press and New York Times is putting our society at risk.

PS: Circulation for the NY Times must really be down–they are literally giving the paper away at the university I teach at.

Matt Helm on December 5, 2006 at 2:59 PM