Edward R. Murrow's Ghost: Dead in the Newsroom

I was listening to Clyde Lewis' late night radio show "GroundZero". And his opening subject caught my attention.

There is going to be a conflict over who or what can be called a reporter and who or what has the right to publish, report or otherwise inform. Beware of the new form of the media. The "Official State Media."

In his related article off of his site called Zeitgeist: Controlling the Spirit of the Times. He explores and warns about government influence of what is shown in the media and the decline of journalistic standards. And when you have a survey of high school students concerning their knowledge and understanding of our first Amendment rights. It is disturbing when the University of Connecticut gets these kind of results:

32% said that the press has too much freedom. Only 10% felt it has too little freedom.

36% said that the government should approve newspaper stories before they are released.

74% said it should be illegal to burn or deface an American flag as a political statement.

75% mistakenly believe that burning the flag is already illegal.

17% said that people should not be allowed to express unpopular views.

Nearly half of the students think that the government has the right to restrict indecent material on the Internet.

But most telling is their indifference.

75% of the students take the First Amendment for granted, or have no opinion at all.