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2001 Reflections...
Introduction
Lisa Allen-Agostini--Trinidad and Tobago
Rafal Geremek--Poland
Agustina Guerrero--Argentina
Sebastiao Panzo--Angola
Gabriela Paz y Mino--Ecuador
Paul Radu--Romania
Phindile Xaba--South Africa
Huanxin Zhao--China
| Reflections on American Journalism
Introduction
The First Amendment to The Constitution of the United States of America states, "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 redress of grievances."
The freedom of speech and press laid out in the First Amendment are the foundation of American journalism. Alfred Friendly was convinced that healthy democracies need strong, free media. He therefore created the Alfred Friendly Press Fellowships in 1983 to give journalists from developing countries an opportunity to experience American press traditions in practice. The Alfred Friendly Press Fellowships is based on the belief that working side by side with reporters and editors is the best way to absorb the practical realities of journalism in this country and to evaluate its impact on our society.
At the conclusion of the 2001 fellowships, this year's eight Fellows were asked to reflect on their AFPF experiences and describe what they learned about the U.S. press. The essays contained in Reflections on American Journalism are their observations and opinions of the workings of the American press based on their fellowship experiences.
Fellows were asked to frame their essays around the following June 26 Washington Post article:
Actor-director Kevin Costner made the unusual move of calling the Fox Sports Radio duo of Kevin Kiley and Chuck Booms … last week to deny rumors of an affair with Kelly Ripken, wife of Baltimore Orioles third baseman Cal Ripken.
When Ripken announced his retirement early last week, the Internet gossip mill churned into action, recalling the rumor of an August 1997 affair between his wife and Costner, who has starred in baseball movies such as "Field of Dreams" and "Bull Durham." When Costner was told that Kiley and Booms were rehashing the rumor on air last Tuesday, he called them, outraged. The next day Costner came on their show…and denied the rumor, saying he had met Kelly Ripken twice and had talked to her for a total of about 10 minutes at baseball functions in Baltimore and Boston.
"I would die defending the Constitution, but, goddammit, sometimes I feel like we've got a suicide pact with this First Amendment," Costner said.
In light of Costner's comments about the First Amendment we asked the Fellows to answer the following questions.
1. The American press is: too free, too free for my country and culture, too free for my taste, too free for its own good.
2. I wish (or do not wish) my country's press had its freedom protected as in the United States.
We invite you to read and enjoy these essays. Each offers interesting insight into journalism here and abroad and a richer understanding of the world we share.
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