Even in the year 2004, should we be concerned about the freedom of the press? Do the publishers and broadcasters think that they are safe from an all-out attack because previous publications like Time magazine fared quite well? After September 11, 2001 , the people of America should be aware of who controls media outlets. Should the media be so dependent upon their advertisers? If editors are afraid of their corporate sponsors, then what kind of freedom is that? What if another man like Joseph McCarthy should control how an important issue (or unimportant one) is portrayed? Should we the consumers take more action in our government and economy so that the corporations know exactly what it is that we want? Should we leave it to government leaders like those who in 1952 ran an ad against McCarthy in The Madison Capital Times which said that McCarthy “Tried to gag press and radio critics by attempting to intimidate advertisers and publishers” (qtd. in The New York Times, “8 Attack M’Carthy in Ad”)? Or does it really matter since we all have the ability to choose what we see, hear, and believe? Neither capitalism nor communism nor socialism (or any other isms) seem to have the perfect answer where it is a win-win situation for all those involved.

Works Cited

“8 Attack M’Carthy in Ad.” The New York Times 15 Mar. 1952 .

Bayley, Edwin R. Joe McCarthy and the Press. Madison , WI : The University of Wisconsin Press, 1981.

Childs, Marquis. “Showdown on McCarthy.” Washington Post 4 Mar. 1952.

Collins, Ronald K. L. Dictating Content: How Advertising Pressure Can Corrupt a Free Press. Washington, D. C.: Center for the Study of Commercialism, 1992.

“Demagogue McCarthy: Does He Deserve Well of the Republic?” Time 22 Oct. 1951 : 21-24.

Helke, Richard. Letter. Time 5 Nov. 1951 : 8.

“M’Carthy Assails Time Magazine.” The New York Times 29 Jan. 1952 .

Strout, Richard L. “Survey Repudiates McCarthy Charges.” Christian Science Monitor 29 Jan. 1952 .

“Time Advertisers Get M’Carthy Plea.” The New York Times 17 June 1952 .

Wayne, Ralph. Letter. Time 5 Nov. 1951: 6.