At this point, we’re all aware of what happened to Jimmy Kimmel after he made a reasonable observation shortly after conservative podcaster Charlie Kirk’s death by a lone gunman.
We are also all likely aware of how conservative broadcasting giants Nexstar and Sinclair Broadcasting reacted to Kimmel’s remarks..Yes, Kimmel is back. Despite pressure from the Trump administration, and the media moguls who cowardly accept the poorly-worded demands from the government to silence its critics, open discourse and speech will prevail.
And while free speech as a First Amendment right does not necessarily apply to private media company owners who can do whatever they want in a sense, silencing people sets a bad precedent, no matter where people stand.
The point of media – whether it’s news, talk shows or entertainment – is to inform and to create discussion where possible. The Globe shares the same goals, and it is of utmost importance to us to keep the discussions of campus happenings going.
But discussions cannot thrive when TV networks lose the plot and their head staff get mad to the point where they boot people off the air just because someone says something they disagree with.
While a broadcast TV giant may not have much in common with a student newspaper from a small liberal arts university, imagine if The Globe decided to silence voices with valid points we did not agree with?
Simply put, it would damage the newspaper’s reputation immensely. The whole point of the opinions section, for example, is to highlight voices within our campus community and beyond that may otherwise not be featured in our publication. This of course does include opinions the editorial board may not have much say in or may disagree with, but that’s natural with any publication.
No two people will likely have the same exact beliefs, and that’s how it should work in a country that claims to value free speech and discussion. When the people who control these media outlets decide that the masses should only hear one take, it is problematic. It creates only one perspective, one mindset..
But what made Disney, ABC’s parent company, change its mind about yanking Kimmel off the air? Money. When one voice was silenced, audiences used their wallets as their own voice. Suddenly losing billions of dollars sure makes a company change its tone quickly, it seems.
Granted, The Globe has not been about money for decades — we haven’t required payment for the newspaper for over 50 years. We also have the luxury of not needing to bow to corporate interests or outsiders trying to silence us. Newspapers may be fundamentally different from late night talk shows, but we always want to provide Point Park with the opportunity to have a voice beyond just in classes.
What’s next for Kimmel? He’s back on the air, even on Nexstar and Sinclair-owned ABC TV stations. But what happened can’t be forgotten. As we have said in past editions of The Globe’s Point, be loud about what you believe in. Don’t let pesky detractors or naysayers get in the way.
And if you plan on getting into the TV business, whether it’s entertainment or media, check where your principles stand. Reconsider working somewhere that goes against the free flow of thoughts and information.
