Societies that want to suppress freedom must first suppress the press

"It is difficult, in looking back, even to separate the concept of journalism from the concept of creating community and later democracy. Journalism is so fundamental to that purpose that, as we will see, societies that want to suppress freedom must first suppress the press." -  The Elements of Journalism by Bill Kovach and Tom Rosenstiel

Journalism binds together people that would otherwise awkwardly exchange glances and have little to say after an initial greeting. Walking into any place where people socialize, it is hard to miss the role that journalists and the press play. Here is a vivid example:

Mary, a local school teacher, walks into a coffee shop. She greets a somewhat older fellow inside, who is sipping tea, and he responds: "Hey, how are you?" This is a typical greeting that is exchanged between strangers. Sure, it seems like someone is concerned about you, and wishes to know how you are faring in this messy business of life, but trust my word: it is a mechanical phrase issued to everyone this individual meets.

"I'm fine, and how about you?," responds Mary. The older fellow, let us call him Joe, answers her question, and says: "I'm well. Have you heard of that shooting that happened on Main Street last night that was in the morning paper?" There it is, now Joe and Mary will have a lengthy discussion on shooting and crime, in their town. Journalism creates discussion, but more importantly it creates and binds communities together by offering them common threads of discussions, without which a community is likely to falter.

How do repressive regimes suppress freedom of their citizens? By dividing up citizens, who would otherwise be able to act collectively to institute a new government by renewing the social contract of their ancestors. The press by providing common threads of conversation is able to keep them from being divided. Sure, each person may have differing opinions on issues, but on major issues people often have similar opinions, more so than we imagine. And even when opinions are different, the conversation is often the same.

By suppressing free press a government is able to set threads of discussion in the larger population, and thus keep a docile public dancing to its own music.