Press’s Sacrifice of Credibility for Rosenstein rumor mill threatens First Amendment
Monday began with a flurry of news reports regarding Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein’s status of employment, ranging from declarations that Rosenstein had resigned to claims that his firing was imminent. By 2:00pm, verified sources confirmed that Rosenstein retains his position. Monday morning’s “breaking news” fervor was riddled with inaccuracies and speculation. Such decisions on the part of the press to sacrifice accuracy in favor of being first to release news stories destroys the credibility of the very institutions America’s First Amendment protects. With each such occasion, America’s confidence in the press as a vital, trusted check on government power is strained, making it ever more difficult to defend. The press must return to higher journalistic standards as it speaks truth to power and informs the American people.
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