America Quote by Edward Snowden
“After 9/11, many of the most important news outlets in America abdicated their role as a check to power - the journalistic responsibility to challenge the excesses of government - for fear of being seen as unpatriotic and punished in the market during a period of heightened nationalism.”
About This Quote
Source Article: The Atlantic, 2015
Post‑9/11 nationalism pressured media to avoid criticizing government, weakening watchdog role.
In simple terms: Nationalism silenced press criticism.
Key Takeaway
Protect press independence.
Themes
freedom of press
government accountability
nationalism
Mood
critical
reflective
Type
analysis
commentary
When to use this quote
- election cycles
- policy debates
- media analysis
- public discourse
Key Concepts
media self‑censorship
public trust
Questions to Reflect On
- What safeguards can preserve journalistic critique?
- How does patriotism affect news reporting?
A Different Perspective
Economic pressures can still bias coverage.
![“[Brazil] went to the UN and said, "We need new standards for this." We need to take a look at what they're calling "data sovereignty."” quote by Edward Snowden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/af7/edward-snowden-555_brazil_brazil-went-to-the-un-and-said-we-need-n_14906.jpg)
![“There was a real choice when [Barack Obama] became president. It was a very difficult choice - to say, "We're not going to hold senior officials to account with the same laws that every other citizen in the country is held to," or "This is a nation that believes in the rule of law."” quote by Edward Snowden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/104/edward-snowden-555_accounts_there-was-a-real-choice-when-barack-obam_27838.jpg)
![“I'll smoke, I'll cough, I'll get the tumors, I'll die, deal? Thank you America. [salutes]” quote by Bill Hicks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/3d2/bill-hicks-970_america_i-ll-smoke-i-ll-cough-i-ll-get-the-tumor_655.jpg)
