I thank the suffragists and founding fathers who worked to the death so I have a voice today. These people worked to empower states the power to protect us from the State. The protected us from a monarchy and gave us the right to assemble. Because of their labors I have a right to speak for or against my government, I can enjoy a free press.
I am a woman. I am a minority. I am of immigrant parents. I am a newly registered voice in California. For me, voting is a gift, a right and a responsibility.
In journalism school, we were taught to think of the news profession as the fourth branch of government. The The Executive, Judicial and Legislative check on each other and the media, the news, the people, that is, checks on the government.
The government was supposed to be for the people, by the people. The press is supposed to be that too. But as the little guys get swallowed up, major media does not feel like us, the people. Then there is civic journalism, which has maybe evolved into our blogosphere. But now, unlike ever before, each individual (with an internet connection) has a media platform, a voice–an opportunity to exercise their first amendment right to speak, which I discuss in my conversation about David Nord’s book Communities of Journalism.
A free and prospering press shall offer multiple voices and perspectives, thereby checking on each other. We can debate whether or not that is still happening, but that conversation is tied up in discourse about ad revenue and reader apathy.
This conversation is about empowerment. I want to celebrate the democratized internet and the power to empower. I have the luxury and honor to work on a product that empowers people to build, make, enterprise, innovate and design the world in which we want to live.
When I turned 18 registered to vote and signed up to work at my local polling place. I took classes on foreign policy , journalism writing and newspaper layout. I worked on election day again, but this time from the newsroom and I had the honor to be the voice of my community. Thankfully, I still get to make something that empowers a community. Today I celebrate my voice as a designer, a writer and civic participant.
Thank you to all the candidates running today who also believe a better society starts at home. Today it is my right and my honor to celebrate a most American holiday: Election Day!