Freedom of Press

June 27th, 2012

Knoxville, TN – This website, it’s contents and the authors of that content are fully protected under the First Amendment of The United States Constitution which guarantees Freedom of Press.  This clause is generally understood as prohibiting the government from interfering with the printing and distribution of information or opinions. In Lovell v. City of Griffin, Chief Justice Hughes defined the press as, “every sort of publication which affords a vehicle of information and opinion.”  This includes everything from newspapers to blogs. The individuals, businesses, and organizations that own a means of publication are able to publish information and opinions without government interference, and cannot be compelled by the government to publish information and opinions that they disagree with. In 1931, the U.S. Supreme Court decision in Near v. Minnesota used the 14th Amendment to apply the freedom of the press to the States.

The Amendment also stipulates that news agencies are not obligated to print opposing viewpoints. In Miami Herald Publishing Co. v. Tornillo, 418 U.S. 241 (1974), the Court unanimously struck down a state law requiring newspapers criticizing political candidates to publish their responses. The state claimed that the law had been passed to ensure journalistic responsibility. The Supreme Court found that freedom, but not responsibility, is mandated by the First Amendment and so it ruled that the government may not force newspapers to publish that which they do not desire to publish. That freedom is extended to all forms of Press, including this very website.

As of 2012 The United States ranks a pathetic 48th in the Reporters Without Borders Press Freedom Index. This is a measure of freedom available to the press, encompassing areas such as government censorship, and not indicative of the quality of journalism. This was a fall from 20th in 2010, which was attributed to arrests of journalists covering the Occupy movement. Forty eighth in the world is a despicable record of censorship and press gagging.

Let this notice serve as a forewarning to any government agency, “truth patrol” or individual politician who finds the contents of this website objectionable that we, the staff and management of DCX, are well aware of our rights and are prepared to pursue those rights via any and all channels available to us, including court proceedings to recover lost wages and prosperity stemming from the normal activities we engage in on this website.

We make very effort possible to ensure that the information found herein is factual and accurate at the time of writing. It is within our rights as journalists to criticize political parties and individual politicians who execute the responsibilities of their position underneath the colors of the flag of The United States of America or one of the 50 state flags. These criticisms are directed at the individual job performances of the parties mentioned and should not be construed as personal in nature. Personal slurs and slanderous remarks directed at any individual outside of their job performance will not be tolerated or included in these pages.

Your opinion as to whether our comments and insight are slanderous and personal in nature is just that, your opinion, which you are entitled to, as we are entitled to ours. But if you get your feelings hurt and contemplate causing a disruption of this websites ability to provide news to it’s readers, consider this prior to pulling that trigger:

Any government agency or individual agent of any governmental department who pursues action against us to include contacting our Internet Service Provider with grievances in an attempt to have our website silenced will face legal action in the form of law suits in a court of our choice on the grounds of Freedom of Press as well as Freedom of Speech and the suit(s) will include monetary damages to include every cent of lost wages and income that your actions costs us to include immediate income as well as projected income AND LONG TERM VALUE from the continued population of content, maintenance and promotion of this website.

Reports are already circulating in regards to other website owners who are experiencing the “truth police” as we trek on toward Election 2012 and I personally think it’s a damned shame. One that I won’t tolerate for myself, my fellow contributors, nor this website. If you don’t like what’s being written here about you, perhaps you should consider doing a better job, or growing some thicker skin. This is U.S. Politics. If you can’t take the criticism then you’re in the wrong line of work. Please, do us all a favor and get a real job.

Ed Brown
Founder / Editor-In-Chief
DCXposed.com
Managing Editor
City Publishing Group