As the principal watchdog in the house of freedom, the U.S. press feels free to bark at anybody. And critics who call it to heel can expect to get bitten. As a result, thought Managing Editor James S. Pope of the Louisville Courier-Journal, the press is spoiled: in its daily performance there is much to criticize, but there is little sound criticism of the press. Last week Editor Pope went recruiting for knowing critics.
A newspaper's claim to the protection of the First Amendment, Pope told a University of Michigan audience, rests on its role as a common carrier of vital information:...