Poll - More support for First Amendment

From time to time we read and hear stories about booths set up at malls where shoppers are asked to sign a petition in support of the following statement:

"Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances."

For most anyone familiar with American history and the U.S. Constitution, the statement is easily recognized as the First Amendment, best known for granting freedom of religion, freedom of the press, the right to assemble and the right to protest against the government.

But the fact is that not all Americans are familiar with the nation's history or its Constitution. It has become a popular pastime for radio and late-night TV talk-show hosts to amuse their audiences by conducting on-the-street interviews that ask people to name the vice president. It is surprising and somewhat shocking to find out how few passers-by can readily come up with the name.

American Journalism Review, a journal read by most reporters and editors, conducts an annual survey that gauges public support for First Amendment freedoms. Last year's poll, taken nine months after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, dismayed a good many journalists. It showed 49 percent of poll respondents (1,000 interviews were conducted by the First Amendment Center in Nashville) believed the First Amendment gives Americans too much freedom.

This was widely interpreted to reflect concerns that terrorists were able to carry out their attacks because they were able to operate much too easily in a society where freedom of movement and activity is not only regarded as a privilege but is a right guaranteed by the Constitution.

With the passage of more time, this year's First Amendment poll shows stronger support for the First Amendment and its accompanying freedoms. While that is regarded as a good trend, especially by those in the news business, the poll results continued to show that freedom of the press is the least popular of all the First Amendment rights. At the same time, the poll showed support for embedded reporters in the Iraq war and a desire for more information about how the government is combating terrorism.

Questions about viewpoints in the news media and the quality of information this year were coupled with statements about corporate ownership of the media outlets and the FCC's decision to remove most limits on cross-ownership. Poll respondents reacted negatively -- just as they might have done if the ownership issues had been measured separately.

Most of the people who listen to radio, watch TV and read newspapers have little understanding of the role owners play in deciding what stories are covered and presented to listeners, viewers and readers. But almost anyone who regularly keeps up with the news has an opinion on the thoroughness, accuracy and fairness of what they hear, see and read.