--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: There is no more important struggle for…" description: "\"There is no more important struggle for American democracy than ensuring a diverse, independent and free media. Free Press is at the heart of that stru..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bcc/bill-moyers-2625_american-democracy_there-is-no-more-important-struggle-for_2934283.png" --- # There is no more important struggle for American democracy… ![“There is no more important struggle for American democracy than ensuring a diverse, independent and free media. Free Press is at the heart of that struggle.” quote by Bill Moyers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bcc/bill-moyers-2625_american-democracy_there-is-no-more-important-struggle-for_2934283.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bcc/bill-moyers-2625_american-democracy_there-is-no-more-important-struggle-for_2934283.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bcc/bill-moyers-2625_american-democracy_there-is-no-more-important-struggle-for_2934283.png) > “There is no more important struggle for American democracy than ensuring a diverse, independent and free media. Free Press is at the heart of that struggle.” [Bill Moyers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-moyers/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A free, diverse, independent media is essential to protecting American democracy and is its core struggle. **In simple terms:** Free press protects democracy. Key Takeaway Support independent media. Themes democracy media freedom diversity Mood urgent concerned Type political philosophical When to use this quote - elections - public discourse - policy making Key Concepts journalism civic engagement Questions to Reflect On - Why is media diversity vital? - How can citizens protect press freedom? A Different Perspective None; media consolidation threatens independence. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [American democracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/american-democracy/) [Democracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/democracy/) [Free press](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/free-press/) [Heart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/heart/) [Journalism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/journalism/) [Media](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/media/) [Struggle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/struggle/) ## Related quotes > [There is an attempt to tarnish Turkey by using press freedom when it is in fact measures taken against terrorism, i dispute this. Nowhere…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/recep-tayyip-erdogan/there-is-an-attempt-to-tarnish-turkey-by-using-press-freedom-when-it/) [Recep Tayyip Erdogan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/recep-tayyip-erdogan/) > [The U.S. corporate media, otherwise known as the "free press," is that hollow pillar on which contemporary American democracy rests.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arundhati-roy/the-u-s-corporate-media-otherwise-known-as-the-free-press-is-that/) [Arundhati Roy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arundhati-roy/) > [However important the struggle is and however much misery and poverty and degradation exist, we know that it cannot be more important than one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cesar-chavez/however-important-the-struggle-is-and-however-much-misery-and-poverty/) [Cesar Chavez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cesar-chavez/) > [As a person, I believe that it is important to struggle and only then can we value our achievements.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harnaaz-sandhu/as-a-person-i-believe-that-it-is-important-to-struggle-and-only-then/) [Harnaaz Sandhu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harnaaz-sandhu/) > [“it’s more important to struggle with a question than to come up with an answer.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dr-edward-shirley/it-s-more-important-to-struggle-with-a-question-than-to-come-up-with/) Dr. Edward Shirley > [One of the things I appreciate more was how important struggle was as the instrument that helped to keep us knit together.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ossie-davis/one-of-the-things-i-appreciate-more-was-how-important-struggle-was-as/) [Ossie Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ossie-davis/) > [ He \[Donald Trump\] is gotten $4 billion worth of free media. They launched his campaign. As I think the president of CBS said, you… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jill-stein/he-donald-trump-is-gotten-4-billion-worth-of-free-media-they-launched/) [Jill Stein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jill-stein/) > [“In one month, he earned in free media about what John McCain spent on his entire 2008 campaign.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/megyn-kelly/in-one-month-he-earned-in-free-media-about-what-john-mccain-spent-on/) [Megyn Kelly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/megyn-kelly/) > [We need a free media, not just freedom of speech.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-scholz/we-need-a-free-media-not-just-freedom-of-speech/) [Tom Scholz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-scholz/) > [An independent and free media is essential to ensure democracy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-christopher/an-independent-and-free-media-is-essential-to-ensure-democracy/) [Warren Christopher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-christopher/) > [You can't have a free democracy if you don't have a free media that can provide vital and independent information to the people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rupert-murdoch/you-can-t-have-a-free-democracy-if-you-don-t-have-a-free-media-that/) [Rupert Murdoch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rupert-murdoch/) > [Remember Donald Trump had about $4 billion worth of free media, and Hillary Clinton has had about $2 billion, and we've had zero. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jill-stein/remember-donald-trump-had-about-4-billion-worth-of-free-media-and/) [Jill Stein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jill-stein/) > [Hamas cannot stand free media.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amira-hass/hamas-cannot-stand-free-media/) [Amira Hass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amira-hass/) > [Free media is very essential for the democratic process and... development.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hailemariam-desalegn/free-media-is-very-essential-for-the-democratic-process-and/) [Hailemariam Desalegn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hailemariam-desalegn/) > [A free press is one where it's okay to state the conclusion you're led to by the evidence. One reason I'm in hot water…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-moyers/a-free-press-is-one-where-it-s-okay-to-state-the-conclusion-you-re/) [Bill Moyers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-moyers/) ## More by Bill Moyers > [If the watchdog doesn't bark, how do you know there's a burglar in the basement? And the press is supposed to be a watchdog.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-moyers/if-the-watchdog-doesn-t-bark-how-do-you-know-there-s-a-burglar-in-the/) [Bill Moyers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-moyers/) > [David Rockefeller is the most conspicuous representative today of the ruling class, a multinational fraternity of men who shape the global economy and manage…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-moyers/david-rockefeller-is-the-most-conspicuous-representative-today-of-the/) [Bill Moyers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-moyers/) > [They're counting on your patriotism to distract you from their plunder. They're counting on you to be standing at attention with your hand over…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-moyers/they-re-counting-on-your-patriotism-to-distract-you-from-their/) [Bill Moyers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-moyers/) > [Charity provides crumbs from the table; justice offers a place at the table.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-moyers/charity-provides-crumbs-from-the-table-justice-offers-a-place-at-the/) [Bill Moyers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-moyers/) > [Conservatism is less a set of ideas than it is a pathological distemper, a militant anger over the fact that the universe is not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-moyers/conservatism-is-less-a-set-of-ideas-than-it-is-a-pathological/) [Bill Moyers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-moyers/) > [When the public loses faith in democracy's ability to solve the problems it has created for itself, the game's almost over. And I think…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-moyers/when-the-public-loses-faith-in-democracy-s-ability-to-solve-the/) [Bill Moyers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-moyers/) > [It's very difficult to measure the impact on policy of any investigative journalism. You hope it matters to let a little more truth loose…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-moyers/it-s-very-difficult-to-measure-the-impact-on-policy-of-any/) [Bill Moyers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-moyers/) > [Democracy works when people claim it as their own](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-moyers/democracy-works-when-people-claim-it-as-their-own/) [Bill Moyers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-moyers/) > [Sure enough, as merger has followed merger, journalism has been driven further down the hierarchy of values in the huge conglomerates that dominate what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-moyers/sure-enough-as-merger-has-followed-merger-journalism-has-been-driven/) [Bill Moyers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-moyers/) > [Unless you're willing to fight and refight the same battles until you go blue in the face, drive the people you work with nuts…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-moyers/unless-you-re-willing-to-fight-and-refight-the-same-battles-until-you/) [Bill Moyers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-moyers/) > [This is the first time in my 32 years in public broadcasting that PBS has ordered up programs for ideological instead of journalistic reasons.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-moyers/this-is-the-first-time-in-my-32-years-in-public-broadcasting-that-pbs/) [Bill Moyers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-moyers/) > [If being tolerant of differing opinions, if believing that America has to make it as a pluralistic nation, if being civil, if that makes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-moyers/if-being-tolerant-of-differing-opinions-if-believing-that-america-has/) [Bill Moyers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-moyers/) > [“Civilization is but a thin veneer stretched across the passions of the human heart. And civilization doesn't just happen; we have to make it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-moyers/civilization-is-but-a-thin-veneer-stretched-across-the-passions-of/) [Bill Moyers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-moyers/) > [I really believe that coincidence is God's way of remaining anonymous.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-moyers/i-really-believe-that-coincidence-is-god-s-way-of-remaining-anonymous/) [Bill Moyers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-moyers/) > [A profound transformation is happening here. The framers of our nation never envisioned these huge media giants; never imagined what could happen if big…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-moyers/a-profound-transformation-is-happening-here-the-framers-of-our-nation/) [Bill Moyers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-moyers/) [Explore all 157 Bill Moyers quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-moyers/) ## More American democracy quotes > [ Elvis \[Presley\] had a stepstool, if you will, to success because he came from the dominant culture. They identified with him. Michael Jackson had… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-eric-dyson/elvis-presley-had-a-stepstool-if-you-will-to-success-because-he-came/) [Michael Eric Dyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-eric-dyson/) > [That's what separates out American democracy from dictators and horrible governments across the world and the reason why that works is that we have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-r-chamberlain/that-s-what-separates-out-american-democracy-from-dictators-and/) Charles R. Chamberlain > [This will be the day when we shall bring into full realization the dream of American democracy -- a dream yet unfulfilled. A dream…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-jr/this-will-be-the-day-when-we-shall-bring-into-full-realization-the/) [Martin Luther King, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-jr/) > [This has all the appearance of a foreign power trying to undermine structures of legitimacy of an American election. That is a serious matter.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-gerson/this-has-all-the-appearance-of-a-foreign-power-trying-to-undermine/) [Michael Gerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-gerson/) > [Men like Abraham Lincoln recognized that if the slaveholders were not stopped, it would only be a question of time until they spread their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heather-cox-richardson/men-like-abraham-lincoln-recognized-that-if-the-slaveholders-were-not/) [Heather Cox Richardson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/heather-cox-richardson/) > [These communities that are losing local news coverage are losing something deeper. They're losing a connection to American democracy. And those connections must be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-stelter/these-communities-that-are-losing-local-news-coverage-are-losing/) [Brian Stelter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-stelter/) > [“Today you go into make a modern recording with all this technology. The bass plays first, then the drums come in later, then they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wynton-marsalis/today-you-go-into-make-a-modern-recording-with-all-this-technology/) [Wynton Marsalis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wynton-marsalis/) > [As a result of the Citizens United Supreme Court decision, American democracy is being undermined by the ability of the Koch brothers and other…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernie-sanders/as-a-result-of-the-citizens-united-supreme-court-decision-american/) [Bernie Sanders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernie-sanders/) > [If everyone on the Court always voted for the prosecution against the defendant, for the corporation against the plaintiffs, and for the government against…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sheldon-whitehouse/if-everyone-on-the-court-always-voted-for-the-prosecution-against-the/) [Sheldon Whitehouse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sheldon-whitehouse/) > [Political violence has no place in Pennsylvania - the birthplace of American democracy - nor anywhere else across this country.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-shapiro/political-violence-has-no-place-in-pennsylvania-the-birthplace-of/) [Josh Shapiro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-shapiro/) > [The atomic weapons race and the secrecy surrounding it crushed American democracy. It induced us to conduct government according to lies. It distorted justice.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stewart-udall/the-atomic-weapons-race-and-the-secrecy-surrounding-it-crushed/) [Stewart Udall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stewart-udall/) > [I have no doubt that there are Russian efforts to disturb the fabric of American democracy, but they're disruption efforts. They're troublemaking efforts. They're…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/masha-gessen/i-have-no-doubt-that-there-are-russian-efforts-to-disturb-the-fabric/) [Masha Gessen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/masha-gessen/) > [“Still, it strikes me that, taken together, they do make an argument, and it is this: the rise of American democracy is bound up…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jill-lepore/still-it-strikes-me-that-taken-together-they-do-make-an-argument-and/) [Jill Lepore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jill-lepore/) > [Mr Jefferson meant that the American system should be a democracy, and he would rather have let the whole world perish than that this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-adams/mr-jefferson-meant-that-the-american-system-should-be-a-democracy-and/) [Henry Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-adams/) > [I have no doubt that there are Russian efforts to disturb the fabric of American democracy, but they're disruption efforts. The working theory behind…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/masha-gessen/i-have-no-doubt-that-there-are-russian-efforts-to-disturb-the-fabric-2/) [Masha Gessen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/masha-gessen/) [Browse all 168 American democracy quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/american-democracy/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "There is no more important struggle for American democracy than ensuring a diverse, independent and free media. 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