Her Childsafe Internet Act of 1997 would make it a crime to post an inaccurate rating on a Web site. News sites present another problem. Their pages change frequently and feature a wide variety of content, from bland stories about pending legislation to graphic descriptions of sex and violence. Otherwise, online news would be less accessible than an old fashioned newspaper. It's a First Amendment issue - the right to free speech.
People have a right to free unfettered access to that kind of information.
Besides, the First Amendment isn't restricted to reporters - it's there for every American citizen who's got something to say, online or off. If ratings would restrict the free speech rights of news organizations, as Balkam suggests, they would do the same for everyone else. But individual rights have never been practical. They required their own section of our Constitution because our nation's founders knew their new government often would find it easier to compromise our civil liberties than to find the courage to respect them. Parents should take the time to learn about the Net and teach their children how to steer clear of what dangers might await them online.