The First Amendment is essential to democracy

Federal Communications Commission Chair Brendan Carr recently said at the Conservative Political Action Conference that President Trump is "winning" his feud against the "fake news media." Carr said the following: "President Trump took on the fake news media and President Trump is winning. Look at the results so far. PBS defunded. NPR defunded. Joy Reid, gone from MSNBC. Sleepy-Eyed Chuck Todd, gone. Jim Acosta, gone. John Dickerson, gone. (Stephen) Colbert is leaving. CBS is under new ownership, and soon enough CNN is going to have new ownership as well." That statement should concern anyone who values a free press — not because of President Trump's rhetoric, but because of who is saying it. The FCC is supposed to operate as an independent regulatory body, not a political scoreboard. Its mission is to oversee communications infrastructure and policy in the public interest, not to celebrate perceived victories over members of the press. When the head of that agency frames changes in the media landscape as political wins, it raises serious questions about whether the FCC is acting as a neutral regulator or as an extension of partisan power. This is where the real issue lies. The danger is not simply criticism of the media — that has always existed and always will. The danger is when a federal agency appears to align itself with efforts that could influence, pressure or reshape the media environment based on political preferences. When an FCC chair highlights defunding decisions, personnel changes and corporate ownership shifts as evidence of one political figure "winning," it suggests a level of involvement — or at least approval — that should make Americans uneasy. The First Amendment exists precisely to prevent this kind of dynamic. The First Amendment says: "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances." The First Amendment is essential to democracy. It's not just about Trump. It's about your local county commission, mayor, town council. It's about Congress and the Supreme Court. We all have to be smarter consumers of our news. Newspapers have an Opinion or Editorial page. Of course, these pages have opinions on them — which means you might encounter an opinion you disagree with. They also often have letters to the editor. If you feel strongly about an issue, write a letter to the editor. But follow the guidelines. Sometimes other articles may have analysis. It's a myth that the media is unbiased. Yes, we try to be. But we're people with opinions, and we're often limited by space and time. And yes, the media must be held accountable. But accountability should come from the public — from readers, viewers and voters — not from government agencies signaling winners and losers. The First Amendment is to be celebrated. Without it, this nation will never be the same. Robert Allen serves as the night editor for Six Rivers Media, finalizing pages for both the Johnson City Press and the Kingsport Times News. He can be reached at rallen@sixriversmedia.com.