Bob McChesney's blog

Sen. Paul Wellstone, a champion of media reform, was tragically killed five years ago today. The following is the introduction Wellstone contributed to It's the Media, Stupid, a book I wrote with John Nichols in 2000.

Media & Democracy
By Paul Wellstone

The media is not just any ordinary industry. It is the lifeblood of American democracy. We depend on the media for the free flow of information that enables citizens to participate in the democratic process. As James Madison wrote in 1822, "A popular government without popular information, or the means of acquiring it, is but a prologue to a farce or a tragedy, or perhaps both." That's why freedom of the press is enshrined in our Constitution. No other industry enjoys that kind of protection.

Welcome to the Free Press Action Network. On Thursday night, we had a great discussion about the state of the U.S. media and why we are at a critical juncture for media reform. Check out the conversation and add your comments.