The recent firing of Juan Williams from NPR and Rick Sanchez from CNN is compromising the First Amendment rights of broadcast journalists. Media networks such as these are requiring their journalists to forfeit their right to the freedom of speech even while not reporting or appearing on their employers’ network.Williams was fired after he made a remark about fully dressed Muslims in airports making him “nervous” on Fox News’The O’Reilly Factor. Two days later on Oct. 20, 2010 NPR released a statement that said, “His remarks on The O’Reilly Factor this past Monday were inconsistent with our editorial standards and practices, and undermined his credibility as a news analyst with NPR.”  Contractual agreements of NPR state, “In appearing on TV or other media including electronic Web-based forums, NPR journalists should not express views they would not air in their role as an NPR journalist.  They should not participate in shows’ electronic forums or blogs that encourage punditry and speculation rather than fact-based analysis.”NPR and CNN along with other networks reserve the right to terminate contracts and can do so at any point.  However, if journalists want to keep their jobs they are being silenced and forced to surrender any feelings or viewpoints toward controversial issues in the media even outside of reporting.Sanchez was fired from CNN on Oct. 1, 2010 after making comments on the Sirius XM radio show Stand Up with Pete Dominick.  He called Jon Stewart a “bigot” proposed Jewish people run media, and followed with, “I think Jon’s show is essentially prejudicial … and everybody who runs CNN is a lot like Stewart and a lot of people who run the other networks are a lot like Stewart.” Sanchez apologized at the end of the show and replaced the word bigot with prejudicial and uninformed.The First Amendment of the United States does not allow The Federal Communications Committee (FCC) to regulate aired broadcasts. The FCC Regulation of Broadcast Radio and Television declares, “Broadcasters – not the FCC or any other government agency – are responsible for selecting the material that they air.  By operation of the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, and because the Communications Act expressly prohibits the Commission from censoring broadcast matter, our role in overseeing program content is very limited.”Broadcast networks self-censor their material and, by doing so, hold the responsibility of covering issues of public interest.  The U.S Broadcasting Policy states, “broadcasters can and do provide substantial coverage of controversial issues of public importance in their communities, including contrasting viewpoints, through news, public affairs, public service, interactive and special programming.”The controversy lies in how networks censor their analysts, journalists, and commentators when they are not on the job.The firstamendmentcenter.org states, “The First Amendment ensures the free flow of information and expression,” which is hindered when journalists are prohibited from stating their feelings even when outside of the newsroom.The National Association of Broadcasters state under limiting content regulation, “Broadcasters will work to focus continuing concerns about indecent programming in a manner that will not further chill free speech, and that will not unduly burden broadcast stations alone.”While I don’t support or disregard the remarks made by Williams and Sanchez, I can only feel that the self-censoring of NPR and CNN are smothering the right to the freedom of speech rather than making an outlet for it. When a journalist is not reporting and not on the job I believe they are entitled to express their feelings just as any other American.  It is unrealistic to believe they are not opinionated people. It is essential that they remain neutral while reporting but are free to articulate their thoughts otherwise.When questioned about Williams’ firing, NPR’s C.E.O Vivian Schiller said, “He gave his personal opinion.”These national networks are drawing a line between journalist and American instead of merging the two. I agree with Williams when he said his firing was “a chilling assault on free speech,”I believe suspending and or fining the two men would have been appropriate for their poor choice of words.  CNN and NPR are just two examples of many, but I fear these types of punishments will become the norm ultimately repressing one of the fundamental values this country is built upon.The two networks may have opted out of facing other controversial issues and criticism by firing the men. “Somebody put the heat on them,” O’Reilly said when Williams returned to The O’Reilly Factor a day after being fired.  Williams recently signed a multi-million dollar contract with Fox News; Sanchez is still unemployed.