The slow, insidious dismantling of a free press is not a mere shift in media landscape; it’s a calculated assault on the very foundations of democracy. To understand this, we must recognize that a free press isn’t just about headlines and soundbites. It’s the lifeblood of an informed citizenry, the watchdog against tyranny, and the defender of truth.
As Mark Twain probably didn’t say, history does not repeat itself, but it often rhymes. Beyond a mere prodding at the First Amendment right of free press, censorship is historically one of the first steps in the rapid decline of other freedoms, an alarm bell that should trigger concern for democracy as a whole. Censorship of the media is one of the first pages out of every authoritarian playbook, which undermines the core principles of democracy – protecting freedom of expression and ensuring access to accurate information are vital safeguards against authoritarianism. Trump is in bad company, with the likes of Adolf Hitler, Benito Mussolini, and just about every leader of the Soviet Union, known for restricting and taking over newspapers, radio, and television to disseminate propaganda to control the narrative and silencing political opponents, activists, and intellectuals through intimidation (and often, eventually, violence). Their control of the media was key to their consolidation of power.
None of Trump’s actions are a complete dismantlement of the free press, but he and his loyalists have been poisoning the wells for nearing a decade. Networks like OAN, Breitbart, The Daily Caller, and others are well-known for conspiracy peddling and disinformation campaigns in favor of Trump. Pushing misinformation and propaganda plays a crucial role in controlling public opinion. Coupled with a seeming inability of the public to critically evaluate information and distinguish fact from fiction and the overload of mis and disinformation, the internet age is a time where the people are particularly prone to manipulation.
This time, his orders are more egregious. In late March, Trump revoked AP News’ access to the White House over their unwillingness to refer to the Gulf of Mexico as the Gulf of America. The White House has also cut contacts with Agence France-Presse (AFP) and Reuters. NPR funds have been frozen.
This past weekend, Trump gutted the Voice of America (VOA) offices, reporting since 1942. JURIST’s former Journalist in Residence Steve Herman, VOA’s former White House Bureau Chief and (now former) Chief National Correspondent was a casualty of the dismantling of the VOA. Here, he voices his dissent in a powerful article that can be found here. VOA, a US government-funded international radio broadcaster, aims (or now, aimed) to provide accurate, balanced, and comprehensive news and information around the globe – especially in regions where access to free press is limited. Their core mission to protect global democracy and counter misinformation cannot be understated. VOA has played a critical role in broadcasting and providing accurate information since World War II and has played a critical role ever since. Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty journalists have been imprisoned or detained by Russian-controlled Crimea, Belarus, Azerbaijan, and Russia itself. Radio Free Asia’s reports on the Chinese oppression of Uighur Muslims have drawn incredible ire from North Korean and Chinese officials – in 2020, NK Officials executed a fishing fleet captain for listening to RFA. It is no wonder that Russian and Chinese television is celebrating.
VOA’s historical mission of promoting democracy and disseminating accurate information aligns strongly with the concept of “soft power”—the ability to influence through attraction and persuasion. Nothing Trump likes is particularly soft – he rules by exerting force, and devaluing soft power based international relationships represses the consistent, long-term investment and engagement required to maintain those international relationships. Trump, who rules by hard power – economic sanctions, military force, and coercive diplomacy, has been delegitimizing soft power since his first term – dropping out of international agreements and agencies, attacking international organizations, and alienating democratic western leaders in favor of autocrats (and oligarchs) responsible for Russia and China. But these are leaders, not necessarily their people. Dismantling VOA dismantles over 80 years of trust and rapport with people under these regimes looking to stay informed and hope for freeer futures.
Niccolò Machiavelli wrote, “Whoever considers the past and the present will readily observe that all cities and all peoples … ever have been animated by the same desires and the same passions; so that it is easy, by diligent study of the past, to foresee what is likely to happen in the future in any republic, and to apply those remedies that were used by the ancients, or not finding any that were employed by them, to devise new ones from the similarity of events.” It is easy to see the patterns – the erosion of press freedoms and shifting towards hard power mechanisms are not new; neither is the democratic backsliding that comes with it.
Donald Trump isn’t throwing journalists in prison (yet), but quickly and quietly, the media has fallen prey to efforts to throttle their independence, urging the press to serve the king rather than the kingdom. According to numerous reports from Freedom House and Reporters Without Borders, media freedom has been deteriorating around the globe, including and especially in some of the most influential democracies in the world, where populist political leaders have overseen concerted attempts to stifle media independence. This information, however, should not give people the idea that they should fall into despair, accepting a fate in which American democracy finally dies. Rather, the end of VOA should sound a bell that encourages the people to demand change.
The Machiavellian political cycle proposes two options for any political regimes’ end – regimes are founded, fall to a subsequent corruption, and ultimately are refounded or they collapse. While it seems decline is unavoidable and inevitable, the choice between the final destination lies in the hands of the people.
The erosion of a free press, as evidenced by historical precedents and contemporary actions, poses a significant threat to democratic principles. While the tactics may be subtle, the intent is clear: to control the narrative, manipulate public opinion, and ultimately consolidate power. The silencing of dissenting voices, the dissemination of misinformation, and the undermining of credible news sources all contribute to a climate where truth becomes a casualty.
It is imperative that citizens remain vigilant, critically evaluate information, and actively support independent journalism. The defense of a free press is not merely a defense of media institutions; it is a defense of the fundamental right to knowledge, the cornerstone of a functioning democracy.
The words of Thomas Jefferson resonate as a stark warning: “Our liberty depends on the freedom of the press, and that cannot be limited without being lost.” We must heed this wisdom and recognize that the fight for a free press is a fight for the very soul of our democracy.
Sharon Basch is a 3L at the University of Pittsburgh School of Law. She is also a JURIST correspondent and editor.
