Russians show a world without freedom of press
Tingley went scheduled for Thursday at Greenwich Public Library
The Front Page
Morning Outlook
Friday, March 4, 2022
By Ken Tingley
The conversation was casual as the person asked me what I did for a living before I retired. After I told him I had been the editor of The Post-Star, he responded he had no use for the daily newspaper. He said he could get all the news for free, so why should be pay for it.
It goes to the heart of the problem facing daily newspapers and their ability to serve their communities with important journalism.
“How do you know,” I asked.
He was taken aback.
“How do you know you aren’t missing something important if you don’t read it,” I continued. He seemed unmoved.
What’s been happening in Russia this week is a good reminder of how important a free and independent press is to any free society.
As Russia’s war against Ukraine intensified this week and the world lined up against Valadimir Putin, the last remaining independent media outlets in Russia were quietly being shut down or run out of town.
While we have seen coverage of protests in Moscow against the war, the more compelling information is that most Russians support the war because they believe that Ukraine is a threat because of its nuclear weapons. Ukraine does not have any nuclear weapons, but that is not what they are being told.
The Russian people support the war because they are only getting one side of the story.
It’s like if Fox News was the only news outlet in the United States. If that was the case there would have been a different outcome in the last presidential election.
What is even more frightening is that the Russian Parliament was expected to take up legislation on Friday that would punish any “fake news” about Russia’s conflict with Ukraine. Just calling it a “war” could be punishable by a long prison term.
It is a reminder of the value of our First Amendment protections and why we should continue to support a free and independent press even when flawed.
If you are not reading the local news, you don’t know what important information you are missing.
Still no name
Over the past week there were two more fatal car-pedestrian accidents around the region. One was a hit-and-run in the village of South Glens Falls and another in Fort Ann.
You may remember there was an alleged hit-and-run in Glens Falls several weeks ago where an elderly Glens Falls woman was killed. In that case, Glens Falls Police refused to identify the driver of the car, despite this being public information. It later determined the accident was not a hit-and-run. When The Post-Star asked about the case again this week, it was told the accident was still under investigation and it still refused to give out the name of the driver. This type of secrecy impacts the public’s faith in law enforcement.
Contrast that case with the other two fatal accidents. In South Glens Falls, the driver was arrested and his name revealed. In Washington County, the Fort Ann fatality was judged an accident where the driver was not at fault, but the name of the driver was still released because it is public information.
That is how it is supposed to be done. It continues to raise questions about who Glens Falls Police are protecting.
Hall of Fame
Officials at the National Racing Hall of Fame in Saratoga Springs told the Times Union this week that trainer Bob Baffert would not be removed from the Hall of Fame, despite the recent cloud of positive drug tests by his horses.
Baffert is perhaps the most celebrated thoroughbred horse trainer of his generation and the recent cloud of drug activity has certainly hurt his reputation. If the Hall of Fame is not going to remove him, they should at least consider updating his plaque to include that his Kentucky winner was disqualified last year because of drugs.
Event set for Thursday
Looking forward to Thursday’s conversation between myself and WAMC host Joe Donahue at the Greenwich Public Library. Because of a scheduling conflict, the event is now scheduled to start at 5:30 p.m.
Copies of “The Last American Editor” can be bought at Battenkill Books in Cambridge before the event or at the event.
Registration is required. You can go to the library website to register.
On the plus side, RT shut down in this country.
It seems like the Information Age that we live in going to make it extremely difficult for Russia to hide anything they’re doing. God bless the Ukrainian people and their president for the masterful job of managing a powerful propaganda effort against Putin.
The images of Russian soldiers surrendering, destroyed Russian vehicles many with tires that rotted and stalled advances are at least getting back to Putin. They’re likely getting to the Russian people too.
Well said, Ken! I fully support the value of getting the Post Star delivered each day to my home.