By Taylor Paraboschi
Free speech: dead or alive? This was the question posed to a panel led by Professor Brian Thompson last Tuesday night in Dempster Studio A. The panel, which consisted of journalism professor Susan Drucker and famed director Morgan Spurlock addressed the issue of free speech in the media and how it has changed in recent years with the creation of the internet.
“You can’t look at the issue of freedoms without looking at technology,” said Drucker, adding that technology is “so far ahead of the law,” and that the internet in particular has “absolutely no respect for boarders.”
Spurlock added that because of the recent surge in both the internet and technology, avenues of research have been opened that would have other wise remained closed. “The web opened up the door to so much information that would of otherwise taken hours of research, and put it right at the tip of your fingers.”
Even though there are many advantages to the internet, both Spurlock and Drucker noted the disadvantages as well. “The libel tourism law is easily enforced by the internet,” said Drucker, adding that you can write something in one place and get sued for it in another.
Spurlock recounted his own experience with his documentary “Supersize Me,” and the limitations that were placed on his freedom of speech. Spurlock joked that he had any where from 12 to 25 lawyers on call while filming “Supersize Me.” “If you want to be in this medium, you need to be well versed in the law. If not your going to set yourself up for problems,” he said, adding that it only takes “one little thing to mess things up.”
The panelists also compared our speech rights here in America to those in other countries, such as Saudi Arabia. Spurlock witnessed first hand while filming his documentary, “Where in the World is Osama Bin Ladin,” the restrictions put on people in other countries, when he tried to interview who high school students in Saudi Arabia but found that they couldn’t answer is questions because of speech laws created by the government.
“We have a great deal to thank the government for,” said Drucker. “The laws protect us from the government fairly well.”
While the government may not be restricting what audiences see, big media corporations are. “Corporations have gotten bigger and bigger,” said Drucker, adding that there are five big conglomerates that have a strong hold in the media.
“Windows of what conglomerates will allow people to see is continuing to close,” added Spurlock. “The internet is the one unfiltered place left.”
One major conglomerate that has a hand in censoring the media is Walmart. “Walmart sells and sensors 50% of what we see,” said Drucker.
Another major questioned posed was if the internet will ever get restrictions and if so will be in charge of creating those restrictions. “[Restrictions on the internet] will be more of an effort for the international community,” said Drucker, adding that there have been whispers of regulations and restrictions in the UN.
Spurlock agreed, adding that we might not see that many regulations now, but we definitely will in the next 10 years.
When asked what new laws and regulations would mean to film makers and others who make a living in the media, Spurlock urged artists not to give up. “Stand up and fight for the messages you believe in.”
Spurlock added that the media business is hard, but its the ones that don’t give up that succeed. “Its a hard business and you’re discouraged a lot,” he said. “Don’t give up. Writers, artists, be true to your voice, be true to you.”