The declaration of an independent Press

A photo of the handwritten Declaration of an independent Press in a reporter's notebook with several coffee ring stains
Photo illustration by Stacy Kess

We, the journalists of the free Press, hold these truths to be self evident

Opinion by

Stacy Kess

When in the course of human events it becomes necessary for the journalists of the Press to dissolve any bands which connected them to the Government, and to assume among them the powers of freedom of the Press, the separate and equal station which the Laws of the People and the rights of the Constitution of the United States entitle them, a decent respect to the voice of humankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to independence.

We, the journalists of the free Press, hold these truths to be self evident: 

That news must be based on facts;

That we are not beholden to any officials in power;

That we are the watchdog of the People, for the People, and by the People;

That we must investigate corruption in any and all forms;

That we must speak truth to power;

That we must hold power to account;

That freedom of the Press and freedom of Speech are sacred;

That the Press must be independent from those in power.

The U.S. Constitution in Article 1 dictated long established precedent that freedom of the Press and freedom of Speech must be protected.

But when a train of abuses and usurpation, pursuing invariably a design to reduce these freedoms under absolute despotism, it is right of the Press — indeed it is our duty — to throw off such restraints, and to provide new Guards for our future security.

The history of the present U.S. Government is a history of repeated injuries and usurpation, all having in direct object the establishment of an absolute tyranny over the Press.

To prove this, let these facts be submitted to a candid world.

In every stage of these oppressions, we have petitioned for redress using our tools and our words. Our repeated petitions have been answered only by repeated injury. A government whose character is thus marked by every act which may define authoritarianism is not fit to meddle in the protected speech of the Press.

Nor have we been wanting in attentions to our government. They too have been ignorant to the voice of justice and of consanguinity. We, therefore, the representatives of the Press, appealing to the People of the world for the rectitude of our intentions, do, in the Name, and by Authority of the good People of the United States, solemnly publish and declare, that the Press in the United States is, and of right ought to be, free and independent, and that political connection between us and the government of the United States is and ought to be totally dissolved; and that as a free and independent Press, we have full power to report to the People, pursue facts, cover news, and establish and speak the truth, and to do all other acts and things which an independent and free Press may of right do.

And for the support of this Declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of the People, we mutually pledge to each other our sacred Honor.

— Stacy Kess, Equal Access Public Media

— Evan Urquhart, Assigned Media

Editor’s note: This opinion piece originally contained a function for journalists to co-sign. Several journalists added their names. Following the release of the Presidential Memorandum on the afternoon of Sept. 25, we chose to remove the ability to co-sign this opinion, leaving only two signatories: Stacy Kess, who wrote the piece, and Evan Urquhart, who edited the piece.

Stacy Kess is the chief of editorial for Equal Access Public Media. She previously worked as an editor and reporter at papers across the U.S. Find her on Bluesky at @stacykess.

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This in an opinion. While this piece contains factual information, it is the author’s point of view.

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