The Powerful Combination: Journalism and Freedom of Speech

In the United States’ prized American Constitution, The First Amendment text reads: “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; or the right of the people
peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redre ss of grievances.” The
Constitution was published in the 18 th century from reasons different than present-day
21 st century however, the document still allows press and mass media to protect the
consumption of information by American citizens.
As a broadcast journalist, it is important that this right is protected for not only myself
but for my listeners. As a radio personality, I have the freedom to discuss topics ranging
from pop culture to the importance of voting in national elections. It is because of this
freedom that my listeners can enjoy music while also entrusting me with the
responsibility of informing them on relevant information without the risk of
imprisonment, death, or the latter. Radio personalit ies are undoubtedly some of the most
candid entertainers in the industry and the first amendment allows for this to be a genuine
journalistic experience.
It is important to understand that the key component of the first amendment, freedom of
speech, does not protect what you say— it only protects your right to speak. I have the freedom
to speak as does the person I am speaking with if I am engaging in dialogue.
As a radio personality, the first amendment allows me to conduct interviews and freely discuss
the interviewee’s cultural background, life experiences, and more. Because of the first
amendment, I have the freedom to also choose whether I want to respect, research, or even speak
out against the information I receive.
Although technicalities show the holes in the first amendment, at the basis, I am able to begin the
change-making process with my voice. I can protest, research and publicly invalidate, and even
freely petition against any entity in the United States of America.
I plan to continue to exercise my first amendment rights through my career of radio and
television. I also plan to take advantage of my rights through social media. I believe social media
is the most powerful medium to exercise the first amendment right due to the nature of social
media. Social media “never ends” and the information we have access to is endless and
conveniently at our fingertips. Social media has made campaigns such as the “#MeToo” and
“Black Lives Matter” movement forces to be reckoned with simply because of the social
algorithm associated with the first amendment. It takes one person to introduce an idea and the
first amendment allows the idea to spread to others, acquire supporters, and acquire dissenters.
As a student apart of an accredited Journalism and Mass Communication program at North
Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University, it is important to me that the first
amendment allows my department to continue to give students the freedom to immerse
themselves in different parts of the industry and not have to request permission to freely use their
voice when they find their journalistic niche.
Without the first amendment, there is no true journalist.