Freedom Of Press In George Orwell's 1984

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Pages: 2

Our First Amendment establishes that all Americans have the basic human right to the freedom of press. Today, free journalism is necessary for the same reason as it was in 1791: to ensure justice within the government. By attempting to censor the press, the government is infringing upon our rights as citizens, limiting our knowledge as a nation, and in turn, controlling our power. Honest journalism reported by dedicated journalists will empower us, giving back the strength to protect ourselves against unjust actions, and to enforce the rights we were promised. When Eric Garner was strangled to death by New York policeman Daniel Pantaleo, journalists across the country sprang to report on it, revealing to the nation the injustice that had occurred. Were it not for the undeniable evidence of a video capturing the whole event, this case would have passed by the public’s eye. After the video went viral, outrage spurred across the country, resulting in riots with protesters demanding real change. By this time, news was in a frenzy attempting to cover all the chaos that ensued. The national circulation …show more content…
The world they live in closely resembled that of our future, foretelling the state we soon approach. In their world, all documentation of government, history, and fact can be manipulated to fit the needs of INGSOC, their all powerful party capable of warping reality itself. By limiting the outlets of information, they managed to erase the existence of thousands of people. Because there was only one source feeding news to the public, their perception of what was true relied solely upon that. This juxtaposed to exposure of Gaurner’s death reveals the importance of transparency when it comes to the press. Journalism must remain honest in order to provide a realistic view of the world, not one self-serving to those who would censor