The term Free Expression is Feasible in Media.

As a matter of fact, social media is a category of sites that is based on user participation and user generated content (Saper 2009). It basically means that it allows the user to post whatever they want freely however, there is one common trouble that journalists and public sphere may encounter when they are using media online platform. 

There are several legal issue such as firstly public tend to use Facebook, twitter or other social networking media to discriminate against and harass fellow employees or even the employer. for instance this issue happened on November 3rd 2011, there was a girl who using Facebook to impersonate her ex-boyfriend and she was arrested then faced up to 18 months in prison due to injuring her ex-boyfriend reputation as a police officer (Gottlieb 2011). another public issue when students are allowed to express their anger about their lecturer through Facebook, Twitter, etc.

                

 percentage of journalists that being arrested                                                                        number of journalist in prison since 1998

(source: cpj.org)

In addition, social media has significantly affected the way journalists are supposed to work. CPJ (2008) revealed the percentage of journalists that been arrested because for the sake of reporting and online journalists represents as the highest as it stated 45% which refers to online editors, web-based reporters and bloggers. according to Millar (2012), journalists are not allowed to express their personal opinion on social media because it could risk their job or themselves. for instance, Abdel Karim Suleiman an egyptian online journalist was one of 56 online journalists who has been arrested due to expressing his own opinion through blog because it considered insulting the president of Egyptian. 

Abdel Karim Suleiman - source: google

As we can see, mostly the occurring of this issue is basically caused by lack of freedom in expressing opinion. Ijnet (2011) stated that free expression is essential because it reflects to a professional role of their profession. therefore, a lawyer as well an author called Peter Noorlander is now providing legal aid and help journalists defend their rights. he has been introduced the term of freedom of expression in various countries (Noorlander 2011)

Hence, the law of social media should have captured and understand that public especially journalists to be able to express their opinion therefore people who are new to these medium have their own privacy to express anything without potentially getting any terrible threats.

(348 words)

Reference:

- CPJ 2008, CPJ's 2008 Prison Census: Online and in Jail, viewed on June 7th 2012, <http://cpj.org/imprisoned/cpjs-2008-census-online-journalists-now-jailed-mor.php>.

- Gottlieb, J 2011, Ex-Girlfriend's Phony Facebook Page Tests NJ Identify Theft Law, Social Media Law News, viewed on June 7th 2012, <http://socialmedialawnews.com/2011/11/03/ex-girlfriend%E2%80%99s-phony-facebook-page-tests-nj-identity-theft-law/>.

- Ijnet 2011, Can Journalists be free expression activist?, viewed on June 7th 2012,<http://ijnet.org/community/groups/10189/can-journalists-be-free-expression-activists>.

- Millar, S 2012, Journalists on Social Media: is it OK to express an opinion?, Queens' University, viewed on June 7th 2012,                                                    <http://film260.com/journalists-on-social-media-ok-to-express-an-opinion/>.

- Noorlander, P 2011, A Report for the Center for International Media Assistance, Media and the Law, viewed on June 7th 2012, <http://cima.ned.org/sites/default/files/CIMA-Media%20and%20the%20Law%20-%2007-20-11.pdf>.

- Saper, D 2009, An Introduction to Legal Issues surrounding Social Media, Slide Share, viewed on June 7th 2012,                                               <http://www.slideshare.net/DaliahSaper/legal-implications-of-social-media>.