A surplus of Media Coverage: the Ethics of it all

From Monica Lewinsky to the devastating September 11 tragedy, does the media sometimes overkill a story. If so, is it ever really necessary? Is there certain information that the public does not need to be informed of?
The United States constitutional guarantees of free press and free expression have ensured a press largely without governmental regulation. This does not mean media without standards. But who draws the line. When do ratings overcome the right to privacy or endangerment of the American people?
In the American system, our free media is an essential source of the information that is at the heart of a free society. This critical role endows the media within its own power, which, when used irresponsibly, can threaten a free society. How then do we manage this challenge?
In many nations the government takes on the role of the primary regulator of the media. In the United States, our solution has been to rely on market forces, competition, responsibility and a highly ...