--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Our democracy depends on a free and…" description: "\"Our democracy depends on a free and independent press. When politicians call reporting they don't like 'fake news,' they undermine trust in our civic o..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a55/tina-smith-12982_democracy_our-democracy-depends-on-a-free-and-inde_1988903.jpg" --- # Our democracy depends on a free and independent press… ![“Our democracy depends on a free and independent press. When politicians call reporting they don't like 'fake news,' they undermine trust in our civic organizations for their own political gain.” quote by Tina Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a55/tina-smith-12982_democracy_our-democracy-depends-on-a-free-and-inde_1988903.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a55/tina-smith-12982_democracy_our-democracy-depends-on-a-free-and-inde_1988903.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a55/tina-smith-12982_democracy_our-democracy-depends-on-a-free-and-inde_1988903.jpg) > “Our democracy depends on a free and independent press. When politicians call reporting they don't like 'fake news,' they undermine trust in our civic organizations for their own political gain.” [Tina Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tina-smith/) ## 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 press is essential for democracy; dismissing it as “fake news” erodes public trust and harms civic institutions. **In simple terms:** Free press protects democracy; calling it fake news harms trust. Key Takeaway Defend press independence and truth. Themes democracy media trust politics Mood concerned determined Type political activist When to use this quote - journalism - political campaigns - public policy - media literacy Key Concepts Civic theory information ethics Questions to Reflect On - How can we protect press freedom? - What responsibilities do citizens have toward media? A Different Perspective Labeling dissent as fake news can be weaponized to silence legitimate criticism. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Democracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/democracy/) [Democracy Depends](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/democracy-depends-275008/) [Fake news](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fake-news/) [Independent Press](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/independent-press-671419/) [Journalism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/journalism/) [News Undermine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/news-undermine-3437857/) [Politicians](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/politicians/) [Politics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/politics/) [Trust](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/trust/) ## Related quotes > [It is almost superfluous to say that there is no such thing as a free and independent press among the mainstream news media today.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chuck-baldwin/it-is-almost-superfluous-to-say-that-there-is-no-such-thing-as-a-free/) [Chuck Baldwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chuck-baldwin/) > [“The ability of a free and independent press to hold political leaders accountable is what makes open government possible—it is the heartbeat of democracy.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madeleine-k-albright/the-ability-of-a-free-and-independent-press-to-hold-political-leaders/) [Madeleine K. Albright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madeleine-k-albright/) > [I have long been a supporter of a free and independent press and I always will be. But with freedom comes responsibility.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-pence/i-have-long-been-a-supporter-of-a-free-and-independent-press-and-i/) [Mike Pence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-pence/) > [A free and truly independent press - fiercely independent when necessary - is the red beating heart of freedom and democracy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-rather/a-free-and-truly-independent-press-fiercely-independent-when/) [Dan Rather](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-rather/) > [Newspapers, television networks, and magazines have sometimes been outrageously abusive, untruthful, arrogant, and hypocritical. But it hardly follows that elimination of a strong and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/potter-stewart/newspapers-television-networks-and-magazines-have-sometimes-been/) [Potter Stewart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/potter-stewart/) > [“James was the first great fighter for an independent press in America, and he was the most important journalistic influence on his younger brother.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-isaacson/james-was-the-first-great-fighter-for-an-independent-press-in-america/) [Walter Isaacson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-isaacson/) > [As Americans, we rightfully place tremendous value on having a free and independent press. 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I was incredulous at the fake news. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paula-broadwell/i-was-incredulous-as-the-bias-of-the-media-in-terms-of-the-candidates/) [Paula Broadwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paula-broadwell/) > [CNN is not fake news.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jolene-ivey/cnn-is-not-fake-news/) [Jolene Ivey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jolene-ivey/) > [For me it was just exciting to see fake news catching on like that. We don't you know, it's interesting. I think we don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-stewart/for-me-it-was-just-exciting-to-see-fake-news-catching-on-like-that-we/) [Jon Stewart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-stewart/) > [“At a time when the words 'fake' and 'news' are being paired together, "Radio Okapi Kindu" honors journalism and the importance it plays in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-bakody/at-a-time-when-the-words-fake-and-news-are-being-paired-together/) [Jennifer Bakody](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-bakody/) ## More by Tina Smith > [I'll never have the seniority of lions of the Senate who've been in office for decades. What I do have is a lifetime of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tina-smith/i-ll-never-have-the-seniority-of-lions-of-the-senate-who-ve-been-in/) [Tina Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tina-smith/) > [Take what women say seriously. That hasn't always happened in this country.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tina-smith/take-what-women-say-seriously-that-hasn-t-always-happened-in-this/) [Tina Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tina-smith/) > [I'm wary when legislators say the solution to school shootings is mental health care, because it suggests that people who are mentally ill are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tina-smith/i-m-wary-when-legislators-say-the-solution-to-school-shootings-is/) [Tina Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tina-smith/) > [I was appointed to the Senate, and it has been my job to serve in the Senate and then to earn the vote of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tina-smith/i-was-appointed-to-the-senate-and-it-has-been-my-job-to-serve-in-the/) [Tina Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tina-smith/) > [Being lieutenant governor is sort of like being invited into everyone's living room, and you just get an understanding of the state.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tina-smith/being-lieutenant-governor-is-sort-of-like-being-invited-into-everyone/) [Tina Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tina-smith/) > [Do not underestimate me. 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I think one of the reasons that that happens…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tina-smith/i-think-that-women-are-often-underestimated-our-suggestions-our/) [Tina Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tina-smith/) > [I've always found that if you listen to people you can find common ground.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tina-smith/i-ve-always-found-that-if-you-listen-to-people-you-can-find-common/) [Tina Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tina-smith/) > [I had always heard that Mitch McConnell was a master legislator and a true loyalist to this institution. But in the 18 months I've…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tina-smith/i-had-always-heard-that-mitch-mcconnell-was-a-master-legislator-and-a/) [Tina Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tina-smith/) > [When I was a kid, I wanted to be a hairdresser.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tina-smith/when-i-was-a-kid-i-wanted-to-be-a-hairdresser/) [Tina Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tina-smith/) [Explore all 52 Tina Smith quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tina-smith/) ## More Democracy quotes > [Elections belong to the people. It's their decision. 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But right now, as of October 17, 2014, the Republican Senate candidates…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-continetti/there-is-plenty-of-time-for-republicans-to-have-a-macaca-moment-but/) [Matthew Continetti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-continetti/) > [Democracy is based on the conviction that man has the moral and intellectual capacity, as well as the inalienable right, to govern himself with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-s-truman/democracy-is-based-on-the-conviction-that-man-has-the-moral-and/) [Harry S. Truman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-s-truman/) > [ Vote for Donald Trump. You're going to see something and you'll be so happy, you'll be so thrilled. This \[presidential\] election is about every… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/vote-for-donald-trump-you-re-going-to-see-something-and-you-ll-be-so/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) > [The peaceful transition of power is one of the hallmarks of our democracy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/the-peaceful-transition-of-power-is-one-of-the-hallmarks-of-our/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [The Republicans do not look on the Democrats as the evil empire.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-safire/the-republicans-do-not-look-on-the-democrats-as-the-evil-empire/) [William Safire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-safire/) > [If you believe in democracy, why shouldn't you know what the government is doing?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/if-you-believe-in-democracy-why-shouldn-t-you-know-what-the/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [Failure to find a way to incorporate political Islam in democracy, however uncomfortable its ideology is for secular liberals, will mean we have given…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/crispin-blunt/failure-to-find-a-way-to-incorporate-political-islam-in-democracy/) [Crispin Blunt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/crispin-blunt/) > [In a democratic nation, power must be linked with responsibility, and obliged to defend and justify itself within the framework of the general good.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franklin-d-roosevelt/in-a-democratic-nation-power-must-be-linked-with-responsibility-and/) [Franklin D. Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franklin-d-roosevelt/) > [There are certain things you must not say in spite of the fact that supposedly democracy means free speech. No. You are not allowed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-eubank-sr/there-are-certain-things-you-must-not-say-in-spite-of-the-fact-that/) [Chris Eubank Sr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-eubank-sr/) > [“All voting is a sort of gaming, like checkers or back gammon, with a slight moral tinge to it, a playing with right and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/all-voting-is-a-sort-of-gaming-like-checkers-or-back-gammon-with-a/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) [Browse all 11,220 Democracy quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/democracy/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Our democracy depends on a free and independent press. 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