Freedom of the Press

As the Argentinean president "reforms" media in what has been speculated as a plan to silence critics that might harm her campaign, I am troubled about issues of freedom of the press.

I am a Communications major with a journalism emphasis about to graduate in December. I have to wonder about whether or not freedom of the press is still a right in practice or just in law.

Different news organizations have reputations as being liberal or conservative. There are issues of media censorship. 

I aspire to be a journalist who holds to my beliefs without violating my unbiased integrity. I am driven to make sure freedom of the press continues in our nation. I believe that the issue of freedom of the press impacts almost every area of our lives including religion, politics and society.

Big Brother

Children tracked by satellite navigation to stop bad behavior.

Around the News Podcast

Join me for this weeks latest headlines.

Bowing to Abdullah?

Presidential aids deny that President Obama bowed to King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia at the G-20 summit meeting in London. If he did, it would violate centuries of American tradition of not deferring to royalty.

Thought this video was interesting. It looks like a bow to me! 

What do you think?

The President and Church

As Easter approaches, the question looms. Where will the President celebrate the Resurrection of Christ? Is he Christian in practice or in name alone? What are his beliefs? 

President Obama has a tough mountain to overcome. With the racist, militant comments made by his former spiritual leader and pastor, Rev. Jeremiah Wright Jr. still heavy on many American's minds.

If he chooses a predominantly black church, whites will say its another Wright debacle. If he chooses a white church then blacks will have a problem with that and  him somehow denying his culture. It is interesting to note that the race card has expired! We have an African American president. No one should be pulling that card anymore, but they are. 

The President has not attended a public church service since his inauguration. White House aides suggested it is likely the president will attend an Easter service somewhere this Sunday without having made a final decision about where he, his wife, and daughters will worship. 

One thing is for sure and that is whatever church he chooses will have an army of secret service and metal detectors for their parishioners to deal with. Going to church with the president has its perks and its inconveniences. 

California's tent city

California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger has opened up a make-shift tent city for the homeless that sprang up in the capital city of Sacramento. The current tent city will be shut down and its residents allowed to stay at the state fairgrounds.

Schwarzenegger said he ordered the state facility known as Cal-Expo to be used for three months to serve the 125 tent city residents, some of them displaced by the economic recession. The encampment may be shut down within a month. The move comes after the Sacramento City Council last night agreed to spend $880,000 to expand homeless programs.

Some of the residents have been displaced as a result of the housing market collapse. Those who are displaced for that reason have been unable to ride out the market in high interest mortgages.

Times are difficult when tent camps are top news. We have to wonder how to cut state spending and prevent such mortgage disasters again without letting our democratic society fall into socialism.

Obama's Kenyan family

President Barack Obama's aunt is fighting deportation. It will be interesting to see how this might influence his stance on immigration.

In Kenya, President Obama's older half-brother has been hospitalized with stomach pains and is being tested for cholera.