America needs fearless and
independent Fourth Estate
America is blessed with freedom of the press. With that freedom, a daunting responsibility is imposed. Journalists need to get it right.
Since before the American Revolution, American knowledge and attitudes have been shaped by reporting. Ben Franklin published criticisms of the British government. Mathew Brady photographed the horrors of the Civil War. Lewis Hines photographed child laborers in 1911. Ernest Hemingway reported the Spanish Civil War. David Bloom lost his life embedded in Iraq.
We learned everything we knew about the 9/11 attacks from television reporting. The Vietnam War was broadcast into our living rooms. Our own Anchorage Daily News, Howard Weaver, Bob Porterfield and Jim Babb, won a Pulitzer Prize in 1976 for their investigative reporting of Teamster union corruption. Journalism informs and shapes our American attitudes.
How powerful is the press? Caesar justified the Gallic Wars in his writings with racist propaganda, some of which has become ingrained in Western myth. Islamic jihadists kidnapped UPI journalist John McCarthy and held him prisoner from 1986 to 1991 to prevent and discourage reporting. Russia routinely assassinates its reporters.
Remember "War of the Worlds" and the indignation when listeners learned it was only a radio play? That's because Americans expect the news to be truthful. What would our country be like if Ben Franklin was reporting on teas with the King, if Mathew Brady published selfies, if Ernest Hemingway wrote a travelogue or if Woodward and Bernstein embellished the Watergate scandal with each retelling?
The watchdogs would become the government's lap puppies if journalists allow flattery and ego gratification to shape their stories. That's where we'd be. It's cheap to blame the corruption of journalist ethics upon the need to entertain, compete with burgeoning markets, capture the market share.
The president is asking for war authority from Congress. And, in Alaska, our economy just went bust. Again. Now, more than ever, we need a fearless, dedicated and independent Fourth Estate.
— Keenan Powell
Anchorage
No more changing clocks
I am glad to know that Sen. Anna MacKinnon has advanced a bill exempting Alaska from daylight saving time, citing it would be good for the health of everyone living in our state.
I heartily agree that changing the clock twice a year is hard for most people. Our health is more important than any other issue. Businesses can come up with reasons for staying with daylight time. I feel they caused Alaska to adopt daylight saving time.
My only hope is that something will be done so that we do not have to change the clock twice a year.
— Dorothy L. Arnold
Anchorage
Thankful ANWR is safe
I am thrilled to hear the news that President Barack Obama has recommended the coastal plain of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge be protected as wilderness. As a 35-year military veteran, Alaska has been my home for over 14 years. I enjoy the outdoors year-round. I love Alaska's pristine beauty, wildlife and the rich culture of Native Alaskans.
The refuge is more than just an important place for Alaska. I believe this place is a national treasure, both for its inherent value as one of fewer and fewer remaining wild places in the world, as well as its significant biological importance. The administration's wilderness recommendation in the Comprehensive Conservation Plan and Wilderness Review is a step that will ensure this incredible, wild landscape sustains life forever.
It matters to me that we are protecting the most important wild areas in our state for future generations. Thank you, President Obama, for leading to protect the Arctic.
— Renee Blake
Wasilla
Dont sign 'fishy petition
Alaskans should be cautious before signing a certain "fishy" petition circulating across Alaska now. Like me, you may have been confronted with signature gatherers asking if you want to "protect salmon" or "put more fish in your freezer." Sure; I want to do both of those things like most Alaskans.
But do I agree that protecting salmon requires shutting down Cook Inlet and other "urban" setnet fisheries, which is the goal of this particular petition and potential ballot initiative? No. And I imagine many other Alaskans who are being lured to sign don't know that their signature supports elimination of an entire fishery and the jobs of Alaskan fishing families. This is not a black or white issue about protecting salmon.
Alaskans please do your homework and be cautious before signing any "fish" petitions.
— Kelly Harrell
Anchorage
The views expressed here are the writers' own and are not necessarily endorsed by Alaska Dispatch News, which welcomes a broad range of viewpoints. To submit a letter for consideration, email letters@alaskadispatch.com, or click here to submit via any web browser. Submitting a letter to the editor constitutes granting permission for it to be edited for clarity, accuracy and brevity. Send longer works of opinion to commentary@alaskadispatch.com.