There is a significant difference between freedom of the “press” and freedom of expression. True, the Internet has vastly expanded freedom of expression. But newspapers still have publishers who hire and fire the help, and who determine what goes on the editorial page and what is printed in the news section (and the advertisements, for that matter.) Newspapers, and their publishers, still control the Associated Press and other wire services. Similar executives control network news on TV and on the radio. Ted can go on writing his column any way he wants, and send it out on the Internet, and many of us will read it with glee. It just won’t be published on paper with ink in Waco any longer. The only people who enjoy absolute freedom of the press are those who own newspapers, the publishers.
I understand that. My point is with the internet WE now have ‘printing presses’ (a keyboard and computer) and a distribution system (a modem connected to a network).