I am toying with an idea. Help me think through this.
"Congress shall make no law ... abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press..."
What constitutes "the press"? It certainly doesn't include a journalism degree. Let me be clear: I 100% support freedom of the press. Censorship of the press would be a step away from democracy towards totalitarianism.
However, freedom of speech and the press are listed separately, and therefore must be considered two different things. Speech? Say what you want, as long as it doesn't endanger anyone. The Press, however, must be held to a higher standard. Too often today, Editorials and Opinions are passed off as Journalism. It is intellectually dishonest. Both The Right and The Left are guilty of this.
In order to be considered "the press", articles and newscasters should either 1. clearly state their bias, or 2. clearly and somewhat equally give both sides of the issue. Otherwise, they should post a disclaimer that the source in question does not provide "press", but "speech". Sources that refuse to abide by this would lose their right to distribute ideas.
The public depends on the press. The Press has a responsibility to provide the truth; Speech has no such responsibility.