freedom of the press
Quick Summary
Freedom of the press is the right of media outlets, such as newspapers and magazines, to report news without government control. This principle is enshrined in the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution, which prohibits Congress from making laws that abridge the freedom of the press.12
Historically, the struggle against censorship has focused on preventing both pre-publication review (prior restraint) and post-publication penalties. Landmark court cases, like Near v. Minnesota (1931) and the Pentagon Papers case (1971), have affirmed that prior restraint is generally unconstitutional, though exceptions may exist for extreme circumstances like national security.23
Shield laws exist in many U.S. states to protect journalists from being compelled to disclose confidential information or sources, recognizing their importance for investigative journalism and a free press. However, the private ownership of media can also lead to a form of censorship, as corporate interests may influence content.45
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Constitution of the United States of AmericaCivil liberties and the Bill of Rights…of religion, speech, and the press, and the right of peaceful assembly and petition. Other guarantees in the Bill of Rights require fair procedures for persons accused of a crime—such as protection against unreasonable search and seizure, compulsory self-incrimination, double jeopardy, and excessive bail—and guarantees of a speedy and public…
Read More…of religion, speech, and the press, and the right of peaceful assembly and petition. Other guarantees in the Bill of Rights require fair procedures for persons accused of a crime—such as protection against unreasonable search and seizure, compulsory self-incrimination, double jeopardy, and excessive bail—and guarantees of a speedy and public…
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First AmendmentFreedoms of speech, of the press, of assembly, and to petition…freedoms of speech, of the press, of assembly, and to petition—discussed here together as “freedom of expression”—broadly protect expression from governmental restrictions. Thus, for instance, the government may not outlaw antiwar speech, speech praising violence, racist speech, pro-communist speech, and the like. Nor
Read More…freedoms of speech, of the press, of assembly, and to petition—discussed here together as “freedom of expression”—broadly protect expression from governmental restrictions. Thus, for instance, the government may not outlaw antiwar speech, speech praising violence, racist speech, pro-communist speech, and the like. Nor
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- International Federation of Journalists
…be meaningful when there is press freedom and independent journalism.
Read More…be meaningful when there is press freedom and independent journalism.
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Jimmy Lai… and his relentless advocacy for press freedom. In February 2026 the Chinese government sentenced the 78-year-old Lai to 20 years in prison for those positions.
Read More… and his relentless advocacy for press freedom. In February 2026 the Chinese government sentenced the 78-year-old Lai to 20 years in prison for those positions.
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Elijah P. Lovejoy…reiterating his views and his right to publish them. Threats of mob violence, however, forced him to move his press across the Mississippi River to Alton, in the free state of Illinois. Despite its new location, his press was destroyed by mobs several times in one year. Finally, on the…
Read More…reiterating his views and his right to publish them. Threats of mob violence, however, forced him to move his press across the Mississippi River to Alton, in the free state of Illinois. Despite its new location, his press was destroyed by mobs several times in one year. Finally, on the…
Read More- Reporters Without Borders
… in 1985 to advocate for press freedom worldwide. Named in reference to the international medical charity Doctors Without Borders, Reporters Without Borders (commonly referred to by its French acronym, RSF) has received numerous awards for its work, including the European Parliament’s Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought in 2005. The…
Read More… in 1985 to advocate for press freedom worldwide. Named in reference to the international medical charity Doctors Without Borders, Reporters Without Borders (commonly referred to by its French acronym, RSF) has received numerous awards for its work, including the European Parliament’s Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought in 2005. The…
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John WilkesThe North Briton.…a French acquaintance how far liberty of the press extended in England, he said: “I cannot tell, but I am trying to find out.”
Read More…a French acquaintance how far liberty of the press extended in England, he said: “I cannot tell, but I am trying to find out.”
Read More- World Association of Newspapers and News PublishersAims
…pursue fundamental objectives such as press freedom, quality journalism, and technological innovation. In the defense of press freedom, it also promotes the economic independence of newspapers, which it regards as an essential condition to freedom.
Read More…pursue fundamental objectives such as press freedom, quality journalism, and technological innovation. In the defense of press freedom, it also promotes the economic independence of newspapers, which it regards as an essential condition to freedom.
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William Hone…of a journalist’s right to free expression. His The Political House That Jack Built (1819), the first and most famous of a series of satires that he produced with the caricaturist George Cruikshank, ran into 54 editions but failed to keep Hone solvent. A bankruptcy (1828) followed his imprisonment for…
Read More…of a journalist’s right to free expression. His The Political House That Jack Built (1819), the first and most famous of a series of satires that he produced with the caricaturist George Cruikshank, ran into 54 editions but failed to keep Hone solvent. A bankruptcy (1828) followed his imprisonment for…
Read More- John Peter Zenger
…the first important victory for freedom of the press in the English colonies of North America.
Read More…the first important victory for freedom of the press in the English colonies of North America.
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