The pen is mightier than...?

I imagine 10-40 years ago most of the media elite sat in a Journalism classroom and they had to listen to a prof bloviate on how grand the power of the pen. Well lets see, the pen is not as powerful as terrorism and more appropriately the fear of reprisal for news media. Interestingly the press is the champion of free press but the champ does not want to take on the fight of the century. Some in the media have, surprisingly the Euro's are actually the strong gloves in this fight. The American media is so concerned with itself and its fear that it is defeated before it begins. The same media that prints picture on rogue soldiers in Iraq torturing, felt no remorse, only glee when it printed the pics is now once again on the same side of an argument as the terrorists. I support freedom of speech. And with that I support the freedom not to speak. But the responsibility to the freedom of the press is universal and I do not think that the American media elite is doing its part.