This is a pretty good (and LONG) article on Ben Franklin's observations and feelings about the Press. I went and searched for his thoughts to see if there were any thoughts that could foreshadow what the Press has become now - and if there were any warnings or visions of anything that could eventually become Operation Mockingbird.
Of course back then we didn't have anything like the CIA, but it is interesting to read Franklin's thoughts from way back then and see if things changed.
By the way - I asked Grok what the following quote means. I had ALL KINDS of crazy ideas floating in my mind...
[A]ny Man who can procure Pen, Ink, and Paper, with a Press, and a huge pair of Blacking Balls, may commissionate himself; and his court is immediately established in the plenary Possession and exercise of its rights.
Quite funny in current times. Here's what it meant then:
In this context, “Blacking Balls” refers to the tools of the printing trade, specifically the inked leather balls used in 18th-century printing presses to apply ink to type. These were typically made of leather stuffed with wool or horsehair and coated with a black ink mixture. Franklin uses the phrase “huge pair of Blacking Balls” to emphasize the ease with which anyone could set themselves up as a printer and wield significant influence through the press, often without accountability. The “huge pair” adds a layer of bawdy humor, typical of Franklin’s style, to underscore the audacity and power of self-appointed printers who could shape public opinion.
I asked Grok4 to summarize the article in 5 or fewer paragraphs. Here is what it said. (everything below is from Grok4 - I added nothing here).
The article discusses the ambivalence many Americans feel toward the free press, valuing its idealistic role in promoting truth and preventing tyranny while often experiencing its partisan and aggressive nature. It contrasts this with the founders' views, particularly Thomas Jefferson's emphasis on the press as a avenue for reason and accountability, quoting him as saying that freedom of the press is the most effective means to govern by truth. The press is also seen as vital for maintaining civilization by fostering common opinions among citizens, as observed by Alexis de Tocqueville, though historical and modern examples reveal its tendency toward invective and moral judgment, positioning it as a self-appointed arbiter over public figures and private citizens.
Unlike Jefferson's early idealism, Benjamin Franklin offered a more critical perspective, drawing from his extensive experience in journalism. In his 1790 essay "An Account of the Supremest Court of Judicature in Pennsylvania, viz., The Court of the Press," Franklin portrays the press as an unchecked power resembling a tyrannical court, capable of condemning individuals anonymously without evidence or legal recourse, akin to the Spanish Inquisition. He argues that this power subverts rational discourse and republican virtues by amplifying public resentment and flattery, quoting Juvenal to illustrate humanity's lust for scandal.
Franklin analyzes the press corps as an open, self-created class requiring little expertise, driven by motives of superiority and profit, which often leads to a cycle of mutual flattery and public deception. He warns that the press can deform democratic habits by exploiting resentments, potentially blinding citizens to mediocrity and fostering self-oppression.
To counterbalance the press's excesses, Franklin humorously suggests the "liberty of the cudgel" – allowing citizens to defend their reputation through direct means, though constrained by republican laws. He advocates for mechanisms like libel laws to preserve citizen pride and attachment to self-government.
The article concludes that the press, while essential, risks centralizing power and undermining republicanism if unchecked, echoing Tocqueville's concerns about a multitude of organs leading to uniformity and despotism. Franklin's insights remain relevant for addressing the gap between the press's ideals and its practice.
This is a pretty good (and LONG) article on Ben Franklin's observations and feelings about the Press. I went and searched for his thoughts to see if there were any thoughts that could foreshadow what the Press has become now - and if there were any warnings or visions of anything that could eventually become Operation Mockingbird.
Of course back then we didn't have anything like the CIA, but it is interesting to read Franklin's thoughts from way back then and see if things changed.
I warned you - it is long, but it is interesting.
https://www.heritage.org/american-founders/commentary/franklin-and-the-free-press
By the way - I asked Grok what the following quote means. I had ALL KINDS of crazy ideas floating in my mind...
Quite funny in current times. Here's what it meant then:
I asked Grok4 to summarize the article in 5 or fewer paragraphs. Here is what it said. (everything below is from Grok4 - I added nothing here).
The article discusses the ambivalence many Americans feel toward the free press, valuing its idealistic role in promoting truth and preventing tyranny while often experiencing its partisan and aggressive nature. It contrasts this with the founders' views, particularly Thomas Jefferson's emphasis on the press as a avenue for reason and accountability, quoting him as saying that freedom of the press is the most effective means to govern by truth. The press is also seen as vital for maintaining civilization by fostering common opinions among citizens, as observed by Alexis de Tocqueville, though historical and modern examples reveal its tendency toward invective and moral judgment, positioning it as a self-appointed arbiter over public figures and private citizens.
Unlike Jefferson's early idealism, Benjamin Franklin offered a more critical perspective, drawing from his extensive experience in journalism. In his 1790 essay "An Account of the Supremest Court of Judicature in Pennsylvania, viz., The Court of the Press," Franklin portrays the press as an unchecked power resembling a tyrannical court, capable of condemning individuals anonymously without evidence or legal recourse, akin to the Spanish Inquisition. He argues that this power subverts rational discourse and republican virtues by amplifying public resentment and flattery, quoting Juvenal to illustrate humanity's lust for scandal.
Franklin analyzes the press corps as an open, self-created class requiring little expertise, driven by motives of superiority and profit, which often leads to a cycle of mutual flattery and public deception. He warns that the press can deform democratic habits by exploiting resentments, potentially blinding citizens to mediocrity and fostering self-oppression.
To counterbalance the press's excesses, Franklin humorously suggests the "liberty of the cudgel" – allowing citizens to defend their reputation through direct means, though constrained by republican laws. He advocates for mechanisms like libel laws to preserve citizen pride and attachment to self-government.
The article concludes that the press, while essential, risks centralizing power and undermining republicanism if unchecked, echoing Tocqueville's concerns about a multitude of organs leading to uniformity and despotism. Franklin's insights remain relevant for addressing the gap between the press's ideals and its practice.