Focus Commentary Reports

Departments Themes

THE PEOPLE, THE PRESS, AND THE GOVERNMENT
Marvin Kalb, the director of the Joan Shorenstein Center at Harvard University, discusses government-press relations with editor Mark Smith.

THE FIRST AMENDMENT AND FREEDOM OF THE PRESS
James C. Goodale, who served as general counsel to the New York Times when it published the Pentagon Papers, describes several historic Supreme Court cases in which First Amendment rights have been upheld.

COMMENTARY

THE ROLE OF THE MEDIA IN A DEMOCRACY
George A. Krimsky, the former head of news for the Associated Press' World Services, reviews the history of the U.S. media and outlines the challenges of the electronic age.

MEDIA CONSCIENCE AND ACCOUNTABILITY
Bob Caldwell, the editorial page editor of The Oregonian, describes ways in which the media attempt to ensure responsible reporting.

REPORTS

REMEMBERING AND SUPPORTING JOURNALISTS
Contributing editors David Pitts and Deborah M.S. Brown report on the organizations that commemorate journalists who have died in the line of duty, and that assist those working under difficult conditions.

DEPARTMENTS

BIBLIOGRAPHY
Recent books and periodical articles on free press topics. Also includes websites for First Amendment cases related to freedom of the press.

INTERNET SITES
Sites on the World Wide Web that feature democracy and human rights issues. See also the sites in cyberspace that explore a free press and First Amendment themes. The opinions expressed on other Internet sites listed here do not necessarily represent the views of the U.S. government.

ISSUES OF DEMOCRACY THEMES

Issues of Democracy

Electronic Journal of the U.S. Information Agency
Volume 2, Number 1, February 1997

USIA's electronic journals, published and transmitted worldwide at two-week intervals, examine major issues facing the United States and the international community. The journals -- Economic Perspectives, Global Issues, Issues of Democracy, U.S. Foreign Policy Agenda, and U.S. Society & Values -- provide analyses, commentary, and background information in their thematic areas. French and Spanish language versions appear one week after the English. The opinions expressed in the journals do not necessarily reflect the views or policies of the U.S. Government. Articles may be reproduced and translated outside the United States unless there are copyright restrictions cited somewhere on the articles.

Current or back issues of the journals can be found at the Journals site on the U.S. Information Service (USIS) Home Page on the World Wide Web. They are available in several electronic formats to facilitate viewing on-line, transferring, downloading, and printing. Comments are welcome at your local USIS post or at the editorial offices:

Editor, Issues of Democracy
Democracy and Human Rights - I/TDHR
U.S. Information Agency
301 4th Street, S.W.
Washington, D.C. 20547
United States of America

[email protected].

Publisher............................Judith S. Siegel



Editor.....................................Mark Smith



Managing Editors.....................Valerie Kreutzer



Associate Editors..........................Wayne Hall



Internet and Text Editor...........Deborah M.S. Brown



Contributing Editor.......................David Pitts



Editorial Assistant...................Patricia Faunce



Reference Specialists....................Carol Norton



......................................Barbara Sanders



Art Director.........................Diane Woolverton



Graphics Assistant.......................Sylvia Scott













Editorial Board




Howard Cincotta.......Judith S. Siegel.......Rosemary Crockett