Post 2: “My perspective on fake news and freedom of speech”

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News can be misleading and not everything is always 100% true when it comes to a news article.

When it comes to freedom of speech, I believe that every individual has the right to express their opinions. However if the content is harmful and damaging to a person/group then there has to be regulations in place to prevent it being damaging to an individual long term.

The First Amendment was passed in 1971 where it prevented the government from making laws. “Congress shall make no law… respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press…” (Middleton, Lee and Stewart, 2017, p26). This gives journalists the power to create stories that can create controversy and portray false information, which I think can be detrimental to peoples lives.

For example, the recent story of Caroline Flack is a prime example of how much fake news can have an impact on someone’s life. Due to heightened rumours spread by the media, she sadly took her own life. I believe there needs to be a change in the laws of what information can be put on the internet for millions to witness.

References

2018. Fake News: French Language Body Urges Alternative Phrase. [image] Available at: <https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-45754756&gt; [Accessed 7 June 2020].

Kent, R. 2017. The Law of Public Communication: 2017 Update. Routledge. 9th ed. np [online] Available from; <https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=7Y6kDAAAQBAJ&pg=PA588&lpg=PA588&dq=%E2%80%9CCongress+shall+make+no+law…+respecting+an+establishment+of+religion,+or+prohibiting+the+free+exercise+thereof;+or+abridging+the+freedom+of+speech,+or+of+the+press…%22+Middleton,+Lee+and+Stewart&source=bl&ots=KFvF95P6J0&sig=ACfU3U3Rta0_61UZlBkIlDisg2V5I-ogqw&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwint7O-rYHqAhVEtnEKHQwTD3cQ6AEwAHoECAoQAQ#v=onepage&q=%E2%80%9CCongress%20shall%20make%20no%20law…%20respecting%20an%20establishment%20of%20religion%2C%20or%20prohibiting%20the%20free%20exercise%20thereof%3B%20or%20abridging%20the%20freedom%20of%20speech%2C%20or%20of%20the%20press…%22%20Middleton%2C%20Lee%20and%20Stewart&f=false> [Accessed 7 June 2020]