You are currently browsing the The Pennsylvania Conservative weblog archives for the day April 4, 2007.
April 4, 2007 by Matt Heckman.
Due to the amount of comments on the previous topic, I decided to make a topic relating to this subject.
For those readers that don’t know what I’m talking about, Jason Stief was a young man who was murdered in Reading, PA on October 14, 2004 after the local newspaper The Reading Eagle printed his name as being a witness to the murder of his best friend back on October 10, 2004. Since then The Reading Eagle claimed that they had every right to do what they did under the 1st amendment.
Some readers have suggested some interesting points, from charging The Reading Eagle with a crime since they are a corporation, and corporations are considered flesh and blood individuals under judicial persistent, to another poster suggesting reckless endangerment.
The main question is this. Does the 1st amendment grant the right of the media which in this case is The Reading Eagle to out the name of a witness to a murder in this case Jason Steif and not face any consequences or accept any responsibility?
My view on this is that the 1st amendment does not protect the media from the consequences of their actions. Freedom & Responsibility come hand in hand. The freedom of the press was never intended to be used against the citizenry in this manner. If a member of the media is speeding on a highway, should they get pulled over and cited, or should they be let go under the guise of the 1st amendment? It is my view that the columnist, and the editor of The Reading Eagle should be charged with reckless endangerment. It is also my view that Jason’s mother Tina Stief is entitled to civil restitution, and punitive damages from the columnist, the editor of The Reading Eagle, and The Reading Eagle Company.
Now it’s your turn to be the judge.
Posted in Berks County Events | Print | 6 Comments »