Roy Gutterman
Roy Gutterman, associate professor of magazine, news and digital journalism and director of the Tully Center for Free Speech in the Newhouse School, wrote an op-ed for Syracuse.com titled “After 4 damaging years, Biden must restore press freedom.”
Gutterman, an expert on First Amendment law and freedom of the press, writes that it is President-elect Joe Biden’s responsibility to restore the government’s relationship with the media. After four years under President Donald Trump, the relationship with the press has been severely damaged. To best restore this relationship, Gutterman writes that the media can no longer be looked at as the enemy of the people by the incoming administration.
The relationship between the U.S. government and the press is so vital because the press serves as a check on those in power. “The independent, institutional press serves as a watchdog for the public, reporting on public policy, asking questions and illuminating problems government should solve,” writes Gutterman.
Gutterman says that while the Biden administration may not always like what the media covers, it will still respond with respect. While Gutterman says the administration could take a big step in supporting free speech by creating a presidential envoy to advocate for free press rights, ultimately Biden “can be just as bold by simply speaking out for value of free press here and around the world.”
