Free Press Or Unregistered Weapon?

We know that democracy depends upon an informed population. We know that voters must turn to their newspapers and TV news for their information. Now suppose that this sacred trust -- our news media -- sets a policy which goes against the public interest. Suppose the newspapers decide that destroying the reputations of a person, an industry, or a political party can produce a benefit to someone or something they favour. Suppose (in pursuit of this policy) the news media publishes false information which destroys a reputation or an industry (shipbuilding, salmon fishery); isn't that defamation, or malice aforethought, or something quite sufficient to make them liable to be charged as criminally responsible? We know and accept it as natural justice, that no citizen can get away with trying to destroy any other person, industry, or political party. So: Q. How is it that large, powerful entities can undertake this sort of action with no repercussions? Is this justice? Is justice seen to be done when nothing at all happens to the culprits in these cases? Q. A value can be placed upon a citizen's lost earning power when his/her reputation is maliciously damaged. But isn't there also a monetary value for the loss suffered by the population as a whole, when the public interest is violated? Can British Columbia calculate the loss of revenue created by the breaking up or sale of B.C. Rail, B.C. Hydro, B.C. Ferries, B.C. Medical Services ... ? I cannot imagine that, in a just society, the frail image of a citizen would be held to a higher standard of responsibility than a premier, a government, the news media, or a public corporation. The power of the lone citizen is small. The power of a premier when backed by a public corporation such as CanWest is both large and potentially destructive. Harm at any time or place is surely not allowable, no matter who causes it. Harm on the scale of a whole industry (shipbuilding, salmon fishery) or a whole profession (B.C. teachers) cannot possibly be a legitimate form of business enterprise or political campaigning. If a John Doe turned in a false fire alarm, he could expect trouble. But if the CanWest media reports a false alarm about B.C. Teachers with the intention of influencing an election, is that nothing? Surely it's far, far worse to deliberately harm the reputation of B.C.'s teachers and scare the bejaypers out of B.C. parents who may then change their votes in a fit of outrage! I cannot believe that this is natural justice. Or that, in a democracy, there is no recourse. Is ours a free press only to those who own one? When the news media turns against a person or a political party, it becomes a weapon. When it turns against a whole province, the news media becomes a weapon of mass destruction. Something must be done about the situation in British Columbia. A class action suit is indicated. [Proofreader's note: this article was edited for spelling and typos on May 16, 2005]