Vanishing American: Whatever happened to the free press?

"“Nothing can now be believed which is seen in a newspaper. Truth itself becomes suspicious by being put into that polluted vehicle.” -Thomas Jefferson

Jefferson said that long ago, and it is more true now than at any time in our country's history.
But at what point did our press go so badly wrong?

The American Society of Newspaper Editors, in 1922, established their 'Canons of Journalism' spelling out what they considered to be the standards by which journalists operated, and the ideals to which the journalistic profession adhered. The ideals included the upholding of freedom of the press and thus the encouragement of the free debate which is essential in a democratic republic.

At their 16th annual meeting in 1938, the ASNE felt compelled, in view of developments in the world (this was on the eve of World War II, with the rise of totalitarian governments in Europe, of course) to reaffirm their principles."

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