1. When we get into arguments that focus and fully engage our attention, we become avid seekers of relevant information. Otherwise we take in information passively--if we take it in at all.

2. What is the difference between news and journalism?

5. No reason, and no space, for debating public affairs.

6. Beginning in the Age of Reason (17th century) and the Age of Enlightenment (18th century) new ideas about how we should govern ourselves developed.

7. The Enlightenment was a set of values that included a critical questioning of traditional institutions, customs, and morals, and a strong belief in rationality and science.

9. The public sphere is an area in social life where people can get together and freely discuss and identify societal problems, and through that discussion influence political action

10. A Proposal humbly offer’d to the Rt. Hon. the Lord Mayor, Court of Aldermen and Recorder of the City of London ... for Preventing STREET ROBBERIES.The principal encouragements, and opportunity given to streeet-robbers is that our streets are so poorly watch’d; the Watchmen for the most part, being decrepid, superannuated Wretches, with one foot in the grave, and the t’other ready to follow; so feeble, that a puff of breath can blow ’em down: Poor crazy mortals! much fitter for an Alms-house than a Watch-house. A City watch’d and guarded by such animals, is wretchedly watch’d indeed.5 October 1728The Weekly Journal; or, British Gazetteer

11. "The basis of our governments being the opinion of the people, the very first object should be to keep that right; and were it left to me to decide whether we should have a government without newspapers or newspapers without a government, I should not hesitate a moment to prefer the latter. But I should mean that every man should receive those papers and be capable of reading them.” Thomas Jefferson to Edward Carrington, 1787

12. "No experiment can be more interesting than that we are now trying, and which we trust will end in establishing the fact, that man may be governed by reason and truth. Our first object should therefore be, to leave open to him all the avenues to truth. The most effectual hitherto found, is the freedom of the press. It is, therefore, the first shut up by those who fear the investigation of their actions.” Thomas Jefferson to John Tyler, 1804

13. "I deplore... the putrid state into which our newspapers have passed and the malignity, the vulgarity, and mendacious spirit of those who write for them... These ordures are rapidly depraving the public taste and lessening its relish for sound food. As vehicles of information and a curb on our funtionaries, they have rendered themselves useless by forfeiting all title to belief....” Thomas Jefferson to Walter Jones, 1814

14. "Advertisements... contain the only truths to be relied on in a newspaper.” Thomas Jefferson to Nathaniel Macon, 1819

15. "The only security of all is in a free press. The force of public opinion cannot be resisted when permitted freely to be expressed. The agitation it produces must be submitted to. It is necessary, to keep the waters pure.” Thomas Jefferson to Lafayette, 1823

16. The journalist should be a provider of reliable, verified, true information--even a seeker of truth.Committee of Concerned Journalists

17. Iraq Quiz When did the Iraq War start? How many American troops were killed? How many Iraqis were killed? How many journalists were killed? How much did it cost the U.S.? Has the war made us safer?

18. When did the Iraq War start? 2003

19. How many American troops were killed? 4,416 (iCasualities.org)

20. How many Iraqis were killed? 97,000 to 107,000 (Iraq Body Count)

21. How many journalists were killed? 142 Committee to Protect Journalists

22. In particular, a well-functioning system of free expression must meet two distinctive requirements.First, people should be exposed to materials that they would not have chosen in advance. Unplanned, unanticipated encounters are central to democracy itself. Cass Sunstein

23. Second, many or most citizens should have a range of common experiences. Without shared experiences, a heterogeneous society will have a much more difficult time in addressing social problems.