Democracy entails freedom of discussion essential in a

JOHAN Jaaffar’s view that democracy depends on a free press “Why Spielberg’s The Post matters” (The Star, Feb 19) is fully supported by the valid observation that the “functioning of a healthy democracy is predicated on a well-informed population. You can’t have one without the other” (Thomas Jefferson, founding father of the United States and its third president). In other words, for democracy to thrive, citizens depend on the press to set the agenda for a balanced, informed and robust public discussion.

The press’ “freedom to print” is complemented by the citizen’s “right to know”, thus enabling the public to fully assess, from the news and further inquiry and debate, the actual state of affairs.