Essay on Freedom of the Press

It is probably no accident that freedom of speech is the first freedom mentioned in the First Amendment: "Congress shall make no law...abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press, or of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances." The Constitution's framers believed that freedom of inquiry and liberty of expression were the hallmarks of a democratic society.

Before the founding of America newspapers were local and worked for their own agenda. With the unfair taxes and acts that were passed by Parliament the nation needed to create a unity in the colonies. Colonies formed Committees of Correspondence to keep each other informed of the resistance efforts throughout the colonies. Newspapers reprinted the tales of the protests and actions against Britain. This created American propaganda to obtain fair treatment from Britain. The greatest time that the newspapers came together to inform the colonies of the Boston Massacre. Being the biggest piece of propaganda at the time, the massacre lead to more colonists believing that they could be a part of a bigger political community and was one of the turning points in American History that lead to the independence of the country from British rule.

There are also times when information is released to the public, which could be potentially harmful to our national security. Ultimately Freedom of the Press is an essential right. For the press, they feel the need to inform people of situations that arise, such as health care issues (probably to raise their revenue but also because if they were part of the general public, they would want to be informed). The government may not be ready to tell it's people that there is a potentially life threatening disease in populated areas, in fear that it might cause a panic. The press on the other hand, will supply its readers with the information.

The freedom of press sounds like one of the things we shouldn’t be focused on, especially with everything else that is going on in our world. Why exactly is this an important freedom? I have always found it to be a little bit strange that we are protecting the right to say hateful things about people you barely know. It doesn’t sound like it should be as important as things like torture or murder. Sometimes words can hurt, but they can also be used to do great things.

Created September 25,1978 and ratified December 15, 179, the Bill of Rights was imputed into society as a tool to establish law,order, and morality. James Madison, a political theorist, was known as the father of the Bill of Rights. One of the most important amendments in the Bill of Rights is the right to freedom of speech, expression and media. In the Bill of Rights, the First Amendment states, “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances.” The First Amendment guarantees the citizens of America that they have the right to freely express themselves about anything, including political arguments and views. This amendment also guarantees the press/media the right to overtly publish their ideas on any topic in the newspaper. The purpose of this amendment is to assure America’s people that they shouldn’t worry about being censored or punished for the expression of their feelings because they are human just as everyone else.

President Ronald Reagan said “Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction. We didn’t pass it down to our children in the bloodstream. It must be fought for, protected, and handed on for them to do the same.” As citizens of America, it is our responsibility to keep the freedoms we have thriving in our everyday lives. Among these are the initial rights given to Americans in the First Amendment of the Bill of Rights. Of these five freedoms, three are constant in our everyday lives. The freedom of religion, the freedom of press, and the freedom of speech.

The government can not censor the press, even if what is published is against the government. The free press helps to protect citizens’ rights and hold the government in check. Also in accordance to the First Amendment, people have the right to join any organization of their choosing and come together as a group, peaceably. The last right that the public has is the right to present the government with petitions or letters that tell of their unhappiness and complaints against the government. This is a right that our founding fathers did not have back in England. When they declared independence from the King, they laid out all of their grievances for the world to see. In contrast, our citizens today do no have to wait for a historical event to vent their frustrations.

Most people received primary education and were able to read newspapers, causing more and more people involved with the political world through newspapers. Some newspapers were biased and only provided favorable attention to a certain campaigner (Doc.F). A lot of people who read the same newspaper thought the same way and would agree with whatever the newspaper would say. The people would one day like a candidate, but after reading an article people suddenly believed that change should be favored over a decent president (Doc. F). To resolve such biased views, there was an increase in the variety of newspapers that were sold between 1775 and 1835 (Doc.G).

Mass media allowed Americans to hear news as it was occurring and to hear news from across the country. “Radio drew the nation together by bringing news, entertainment, and advertisements to more than 10 million households by 1929. Radio blunted regional differences and imposed similar tastes and lifestyles. No other media had the power to create heroes and villains so quickly.” (Digital History). Another aspect of American culture that radios allowed to grow was the rise of celebrities and heroes. People were able to hear about the events that were occurring all over the nation involving famous individuals. It was the first time in American history where the most famous and well-known citizens were not politicians or war heroes. “One way to measure America’s shift away from a hero-oriented stance to an embrace of celebrity was...to survey the biographical articles that appeared in The Saturday Evening Post and Collier… after 1922 over half came from the world of entertainment: sports figures like Joe Louis and Babe Ruth, and movie stars such as Gloria Swanson and Charlie Chaplin.” (OAH Magazine of History). Because these rising stars were not famous for their role in politics or war, they inspired Americans to work hard to achieve their dreams. This created a society of hardworking determined

During the Revolutionary period, the founding fathers set forth many goals and values to shape American politics. They saw the great potential that America possessed to become a united nation and leading economic power. Even though the U.S. was in debt as a result of the Revolutionary War, the founding fathers did not approve of debt and warned future generations of its danger. The founding fathers also warned future generations of the importance of an isolationist policy to prevent foreign entanglements. Throughout American history, freedom of the press has been continually threatened. Therefore, American politics today does not uphold the goals and values the founding fathers set forth for America during its creation because of national debt, current foreign affairs, and freedom of the press.

Freedom of the press was the point of the First Amendment, letting everyone have a right to their opinion that was not available before the Revolutionary War. However, this is not the first time that the government tried to counter act this right. President John Adams, signed the first Sedition Act into law which were repealed by President Jefferson in 1801. The American Government promised freedom of the press when we became a country, and I see no reason whatsoever to take it away. Absolutely, was this an unquestionable contravention of the First Amendment. Contributing classified military secrets to the enemy is one thing I can understand them trying to stop, but not taking away a right that blood was shed to achieve. Hence forth,

Richard Carwardine successfully discusses Abraham Lincolns understanding of newspapers, his relationship with editorial corps, and his use of newspapers as a political weapon. I

In the United States, freedom of the press and the broader freedom of speech are protected by the First

I have several writings of Jefferson that illustrate his sentiments on the importance and necessity of the “Free Press” for democracy and his warning to keep the powers of the government and the Constitution. Charles Yancey in 1816, “where the press is free and every man able to read, all is safe,” Elbridge Gerry in 1799, “I am for freedom of religion, & against all maneuvres to bring about a legal ascendancy of one sect over another: for freedom of the press, & against all violations of the constitution to silence by force & not by reason the complaints or criticisms, just or unjust, of our citizens against the conduct of their agents.” James Currie, 1796, “It is however an evil for which there is no remedy. Our liberty depends on the freedom

"Freedom of the press is guaranteed only to those who own one." This quote by A.J. Liebling illustrates the reality of where the media stands in today's society. Over the past twenty years there has been an increase in power throughout the media with regard to politics. The media's original purpose was to inform the public of the relevant events that occurred around the world. The job of the media is to search out the truth and relay that news to the people. The media has the power to inform the people but often times the stories given to the public are distorted for one reason or another. Using slant and sensationalism, the media has begun to shape our views in society and the process by which