The Joplin Globe, the importance of freedom of the press and the top posts for the Turner Report/Inside Joplin this week

More than 300 newspapers across the United States printed editorials Thursday defending the freedom of the press against attacks from President Donald Trump, who has referred to the press as "the enemy of the people," and who has decried everything that has been written about him that he does not like as "fake news." Invariably, everything that he has described as fake news has been completely factual.

For some reason, there is a substantial minority, but thankfully still a minority, that seems to be willing to throw out the First Amendment if it involves criticism of someone they believe can do no wrong.

The attacks are dangerous. They have inspired dictators all over the world to parrot Trump's "fake news" cry and begin jailing or killing reporters and it is no longer a priority of the U. S. under the Trump Administration to defend the freedoms that have made America stand as a shining beacon of freedom.

When the newspapers elected to print their editorials on the same day, Trump naturally criticized the media again and referred to the act as "collusion."

If joining together to fight for freedom of the press and against a president who clearly does not value that freedom is collusion, then thank God we have more than 300 newspapers in this U. S. that can still raise their voices to fight for that freedom.

And then we have the Joplin Globe.

I have no idea why the Globe did not run an editorial. Perhaps it is burned one too many times by the out-of-touch-with-reality readers who believe the Globe is a liberal newspaper, despite so much evidence to the contrary.

Maybe Community Newspapers Holding, Inc. the out-of-state chain that owns our area's newspaper of record decided that its papers would not print editorials.

Or maybe it's the idea that the Globe, though in the past it has shown pretensions otherwise, is a small-town newspaper. Maybe someone figured that since we were talking about a national issue, perhaps the editorials were better left to the Washington Post, the New York Times, the Kansas City Star, the St. Louis Post-Dispatch and other metropolitan newspapers.

That argument is a false one.

If you are not willing to use the First Amendment, you could lose the First Amendment.

The number of people who are willing to lump all media together as the enemy or who are not willing to believe anyone who gives them information that is not the same as they hear from their favorite cable news channel or their opinionated radio talk show host has been growing for the past quarter of a century. Now that deadening effect on our nation's discourse has been joined by those who purposely disseminate actual fake news (and it is not our mainstream media that is doing this). The enemy is not only the newspaper that the president refers to as the "failing New York Times," or the Washington Post, it is also the Joplin Globe.

It is not just the newspapers that send reporters to Helsinki with the president, but it is also the newspapers that send reporters to City Hall or to the school board meeting.

I have far more faith in newspapers that nearly always get the story right and when they make a mistake they are willing to admit it and take responsibility for it.

That's not fake news. That is not an enemy of the people.

It is a public service and one that will help us get through these troubled times.

It is a good thing that the media is standing up to the bully at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue.

It is a shame that the Joplin Globe did not see fit to do the same.

***

The Top 10 lists for the most visited posts on the Turner Report, Inside Joplin and Inside Joplin Obituaries and links to those posts are featured below. See how many of those you could only find on the Turner Report/Inside Joplin.

Thanks again to those of you who have continued to support this news operation. Your support is much appreciated.

Anyone wishing to subscribe or contribute can do so at the PayPal links on the right hand side of this page, or by sending the contributions to my mailing address, which is also provided on the right hand side of this page.

The Turner Report

1. Judge approves motion granting Jalen Vaden attorney option to ask state to pay for litigation expenses, expert witnesses

2. Appellate court: Meth-addled Newton County couple will not regain custody of four children

3. Probable cause: Joplin man sexually assaulted 11-year-old boy at LaQuinta Hotel on Range Line

4. Umbilical cord of fifth child of meth-addled Newton County couple tests positive, judge orders child's removal

5. Joplin R-8 Board officially accepts resignation of McKinley Elementary principal, hires Barbara Cox

6. Arraignment set for former Jasper fireman's wife charged with felony tampering with witness in child molestation case

7. Former Jasper fireman's wife charged with felony tampering with a witness in child molestation case

8. Joplin CVB Board ignores guidelines, recommends grant money for Connect2Culture, Wildcat Glades

9. Joplin R-8 Board holds special closed session for personnel reasons

10. Auditor refers Woolston's actions to feds, Jasper County prosecutor

Inside Joplin

1. Joplin Police on missing persons case: We are concerned for the safety of Sarah Burton

2. Reward offered: Have you seen Waffle?

3. Empire District Electric customers to see rate reduction due to Public Service Commission order

4. Joplin News First offers video coverage of JPD swat operation at 2700 block of S. Minnesota

5. Stella teen, Monett couple injured in collision on 60

6. Jasper County Marriage Licenses

7. Carl Junction High School teacher Tobin Schultz finalist for Missouri Teacher of the Year Award

8. Off-duty JPD officer's recognition of suspects leads to four arrests, seizure of heroin, meth, weapon

9. Joplin Police Department Arrests August 14-15

10. Joplin man injured in three-vehicle crash at 34th and Main, dies at KU Medical Center

Inside Joplin Obituaries

1. Phyllis Doyle

2. Balin Joy

3. Jacob Ellis

4. Youa Moua

5. David Moran

6. Glen Andrews

7. Terri Macias

8, Julie Arnold

9. Victor Sinclair

10. Jake Marbough

***
Stories of Newton County the way it used to be- My new book Newton County Memories is available locally at Granby Auto Supply and Hardware, Changing Hands Book Shoppe and Always Buying Books in Joplin and Pat's Books in Carthage, as well from Amazon in both paperback and e-book formats at the links below.