Characteristics and Influence of the Press in the United States

Key Insight

The American press, characterized by its often violent language—exemplified by a contemporary article fiercely denouncing President Jackson as a 'heartless despot' driven by 'ambition' and 'corruption'—is observed to possess less overall power than its French counterpart. This is primarily attributed to the deep American commitment to popular sovereignty and their sincere application of it. Americans rarely prosecute the press, believing courts are ineffective against language's 'supple' nature, which allows offenses to vanish when law intervenes. They understand that effectively moderating the press would require an absolute master of society, capable of judging intentions without public scrutiny or legal grounds, essentially a tribunal above public opinion; thus, there is 'no middle ground between servitude and license' for the press.

A primary reason for the American press's limited individual power is its profound decentralization and dispersion. Unlike in France, where press power is concentrated, the United States lacks a capital to centralize enlightenment or power, with thought disseminated throughout the country. Laws facilitate this dispersion by requiring no licensing, official stamps, registration, or surety bonds for journalists, making it easy to establish newspapers. This proliferation leads to an axiom in American political science: neutralizing newspaper influence requires multiplying their number. Consequently, nearly every town has a newspaper, making discipline and unity impossible. This intense competition limits profits, deterring skilled businesspeople, and the sheer number of publications means there are insufficient talented writers, resulting in journalists having a low social standing, rudimentary education, and often expressing ideas crudely by appealing to popular passions rather than principles, frequently invading private lives, with up to three-quarters of a typical American newspaper filled with advertising.

Despite individual papers having little power, the periodical press in the United States as a whole wields immense influence, second only to the people themselves. It circulates political currents throughout the vast country, exposes political workings, compels public figures to face public opinion, unifies interests around doctrines, and formulates party creeds, enabling inter-party communication without direct contact. When numerous organs align on a common stance, their collective long-term influence becomes 'almost irresistible,' eventually swaying public opinion. Moreover, opinions formed under this free press are often more tenacious than those under censorship. Americans cling to ideas not just for their perceived truth, but also out of pride, viewing them as their own chosen convictions. While reflective conviction is rare, the constant criticism of social theories means people adhere to beliefs not from certainty of their goodness, but from uncertainty that anything else is better, leading to fewer martyrs and apostates in politics. When opinions are in doubt, people rely more on tangible instincts and material interests, which are clearer and more permanent guides.