In the past week, Egypt’s government has ordered Internet service providers to disconnect Egyptians to the Internet, preventing a wider spread of coverage of protests calling for the end of President Mubarak’s 30-year reign. Cell phone service has also been shut down, with the TV news network Al-Jazeera blocked from public broadcasting. With many telecommunication tools rendered useless, protesters and activists can now only take their message of change and reform to the streets.
Across the Atlantic, Americans often appear to have a loveable but heated relationship with the media. We are famous for desiring those precious 15 minutes of fame, and then immediately complaining that television, print, or Internet services are beginning to dictate our actions and words. However, we as a people can’t deny that our lives revolve around the media, especially when our society interacts largely through online communication. What we take for granted every day is our first amendment right of freedom of speech, which includes the freedom of the press. On paper you read reviews, opinions and news stories that keep you up to date with the latest thoughts and current events happening locally and globally.
Our federal government does not heavily control what is written for newspapers or broadcasted through TV. In turn, we are also free to continue sharing our ideas online through blogs, Facebook, and forums. What we share can sometimes lead to social change and activism for a more democratic future.
The growing political unrest in countries like Tunisia, Jordan and Egypt remind us why everyone needs the media in society today. With no access to television news reports or Internet news sites, the freedom to spread knowledge, new ideas and reports on recent events becomes severely crippled. We at The Wooster Voice encourage all of our readers to project their voice and always keep the conversation going, whether that is in print or online.