If in other lands the press and books and literature of all kinds are censored, we must redouble our efforts here to keep them free.

Freedom of the press is essential to the preservation of a democracy; but there is a difference between freedom and license. Editorialists who tell downright lies in order to advance their own agendas do more to discredit the press than all the censors in the world.

A critical, independent and investigative press is the lifeblood of any democracy. The press must be free from state interference. It must have the economic strength to stand up to the blandishments of government officials. It must have sufficient independence from vested interests to be bold and inquiring without fear or favour. It must enjoy the protection of the constitution, so that it can protect our rights as citizens.

Were it left to me to decide whether we should have a government without newspapers, or newspapers without a government, I should not hesitate a moment to prefer the latter. But I should mean that every man should receive those papers and be capable of reading them.

A house divided against itself cannot stand. I believe this government cannot endure permanently half slave and half free.

But it's really dangerous to demonize the media. It's dangerous to call the media lowlifes. It's dangerous to say they're the enemy of the people.