The Battle of Freedom of the Press. In a society where our freedom of speech is being constantly challenged, where does the press fit in? As of late, journalists and writers have been under attack for expressing their opinions in Op-Ed pieces, as was the case with Sen. Tom Cotton where his New York Times Op-Ed was disavowed by the newspaper. Here to discuss the press’ role, changes that editorial boards are faced with during these changing times, and the Globe’s latest endeavor, is Editorial Page Editor for the Boston Globe, Bina Venkataraman.
Reversing Course in Swampscott. A bartender at the popular Swampscott restaurant, Mission on the Bay, was initially fired for publicly sharing comments on social media that he overheard being made by a local Selectman who he believed was being critical of the Black Lives Matter movement. Now, the restaurant owner has reversed his decision and hired the bartender back, claiming he was wrong, and actually “proud” of what the bartender accomplished with his message. Furthermore, the Selectman in question, Don Hause, claims the conversation did not happen the way is was told and that it’s “inflammatory and untrue”. Hause has since been banned from Mission on the Bay. Is this an attack on freedom of speech? What about server-customer privilege? Even so, is the restaurant in the right to ban an individual based on his personal thoughts or comments?
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