Free speech to a college newspaper editor is like an endless supply of candy to a five-year-old. Too often, both will partake of the sweets now and pay the consequences later.It’s a lesson Colorado State University officials are reminded of this week as they deal with the public furor erupting after staff at the school’s student newspaper, the Rocky Mountain Collegian, let their thoughts concerning President Bush and the state of American civil liberties be known on the editorial page.
Specifically, the paper’s September 21st editorial page contained a four word editorial. “Taser this. . . F*$% Bush,” it read.
Collegian Editor David McSwane and his board say they intended to ignite debate about free speech. “We thought the best way to illustrate that point was to use our freedoms,” McSwane said. In other words, they saw shock treatment as their best possible approach. How sad.
In reality, there are plenty of other means to discuss free speech. But, McSwane and the Collegian chose an immature and irresponsible way to get attention–the candy they crave. They also assumed their readers weren’t sophisticated enough to engage in a legitimate dialogue on a very important political issue.
Like a child howling in a candy store to get what he wants, the Collegian substituted a four letter word for genuine political discourse. All for attention. If only McSwane had stepped back for a moment to acknowledge not just his freedoms as an American–but also his ethical obligations as a newspaper editor.
According to the code of ethics espoused by the Society of Professional Journalists, “gathering and reporting information may cause harm or discomfort,” but this doesn’t mean the “pursuit of the news (serves as) a license for arrogance.” Journalists are, therefore, advised to “show good taste.” By printing their juvenile editorial, McSwane and his staff irresponsibly violated this ethos.
As McSwane is learning all too well, the First Amendment grants impunity from unnecessary government suppression–not impunity from public scrutiny. He is also getting an important lesson in basic market economics. While university officials should resist booting him for his choice of words, community members should be free to respond with their wallets. Advertisers have already yanked more than $30,000 in revenue.
The pain from lost advertisements is just the beginning. As CSU officials contemplate Swane’s fate, his journalistic reputation is now being solidified as someone unable to make important but basic ethical distinctions in everyday editorial decisions. This reputation is bound to follow him to his next journalist position–if there is to be one. Most professional journalists understand that obscene words don’t amount to quality journalism.
Ultimately, the CSU newspaper staff got what it wanted–attention. It’s just too bad that the paper’s editors will likely realize too late that this is just the type of attention a journalist should never seek. Free speech is sacred. We don’t need to scream obscenities to prove it.
PAUL CAMPOS
MIKE LITTWIN
DIANE CARMAN
As you read this, Doc is on patrol along the streets of Heaven, caring for his beloved Marines.
Conservative Libertarian Outpost 