dan rather
Lately there’s been a lot of debate coming across my Facebook page about the protests of NFL athletes during the national anthem.Some people think the protesting players ought to be fired.
Some people think it’s a form of protected free speech.
Few of them seem to understand freedom of speech or freedom of the press.
Newspaper reporters have freedom of speech, in their role as a PRIVATE CITIZEN. They do not, in any way shape or form have “freedom of speech” in their writings for the newspaper, UNLESS THE OWNER OF THE NEWSPAPER GRANTS IT TO THEM. It’s the owners newspaper and the owner is not only free to print what he/she pleases, but is also RESPONSIBLE FOR IT.
It’s the same with Freedom of the press. A newspaper reporter writing for the Minneapolis Tribune does not have “freedom of the press” unless they publish their own blog or their own newspaper. Again, the right and responsibility fall to the owner of the newspaper.
