US group that campaigns to protect journalists takes ‘unprecedented step’ of accusing Republican candidate of ‘betraying first amendment values’
If Donald Trump should win the presidency it would represent a threat to press freedom, says the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ).
The US-based press freedom watchdog has taken what it calls “an unprecedented step” by issuing a statement by the chair of its board, Sandra Mims Rowe, in which she accuses Trump of consistently betraying first amendment values.
Since the beginning of his candidacy, Trump has insulted and vilified the press and has made his opposition to the media a centrepiece of his campaign. Trump has routinely labelled the press as ‘dishonest’ and ‘scum’ and singled out individual news organisations and journalists.
Through his words and actions, Trump has consistently demonstrated a contempt for the role of the press beyond offering publicity to him and advancing his interests...
This is not about picking sides in an election. This is recognising that a Trump presidency represents a threat to press freedom unknown in modern history.
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