Freedom of speech is not free, US academic says in Istanbul

ISTANBUL – Hürriyet Daily News

New free markets in countries like China and India and new communication technologies are two key forces behind recent changes in press freedom and freedom of expression, according to a leading expert on the issue speaking in Istanbul on Monday.

Lee C. Bollinger, president of Colombia University, gave a speech at Istanbul Technical University about press freedom and freedom of expression in the current day and age. Bollinger is considered an expert in the two fields. He has participated in numerous conferences and published many works.

He said the formation of markets and the development of communication should go hand in hand. “We should link the freedom of the press more with economic development.”

He also said while the exchange of information has gained global status, so has censorship. Bollinger noted that he could be prosecuted in some countries for an article he wrote for an American publication thanks to the Internet. “Censorship anywhere becomes censorship everywhere,” he said, adding this is a rarely discussed angle of developments in communication technologies.

“Free speech and freedom of the press do not come free,” Bollinger said, adding that the price to pay is sometimes misinformation or hateful speech. However, the price is worth it, he argued, saying it protects a strong, open system with free speech. “Freedom and free speech and free press are used not simply to get more information and ideas but also to create the character of societies.”

Journalism is a different profession because others are “liable for bad products they produce while journalism is not.” The Columbia president said the profession provides the informative process the people would be unable to receive otherwise.

via Freedom of speech is not free, US academic says in Istanbul – Hurriyet Daily News and Economic Review.