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'''Freedom of the press''' is the [[unalienable rights|right]] to [[publish]] materials without [[big government|government]] interference or [[censorship]].  It is an explicit part of the free speech protections of the [[First Amendment]] to the [[United States Constitution]]'s [[Bill of Rights]]. It has no precedent in earlier [[history]] and remains, to this day, a uniquely [[American]] phenomenon.

'''Freedom of the press''' is the right to publish materials without government interference or [[censorship]].  It is an explicit part of the [[free speech]] protections of the [[First Amendment]] to the [[United States Constitution]].

The [[First Amendment]] states:

The [[First Amendment]] states:

<blockquote>[[Congress]] shall make no [[law]] respecting an establishment of [[freedom of religion|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]].</blockquote>

<blockquote>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.</blockquote>

In [[England]], the government required the press to be [[license]]d and regulated what could be printed. The Star Chamber punished criticism of the [[King]] as [[sedition|seditious]] [[libel]], even if the criticism was true.  In 1695, the English [[Parliament]] allowed the press licensing laws to lapse, and in the 1770s, the crown failed to convict a number of authors for libel.

In [[England]], the government required the press to be [[license]]d and regulated what could be printed. The Star Chamber punished criticism of the [[King]] as [[sedition|seditious]] [[libel]], even if the criticism was true.  In 1695, the English [[Parliament]] allowed the press licensing laws to lapse, and in the 1770s, the crown failed to convict a number of authors for libel.

In 1776, the [[Virginia]] [[colonial]] legislature passed a Declaration of Rights that included the sentence "The freedom of the press is one of the greatest bulwarks of [[liberty]], and can never be restrained but by [[tyranny|despotic]] Governments." Eight of the other thirteen states made similar pledges.  When the [[Constitutional Convention]] drafted the original Constitution, the proposal was criticized for failing to include a [[Bill of Rights]].  So the First Congress drafted the Bill of Rights (including a provision for Freedom of the Press) and sent it to the states for [[ratification]].

In 1776, the [[Virginia]] colonial legislature passed a Declaration of Rights that included the sentence "The freedom of the press is one of the greatest bulwarks of liberty, and can never be restrained but by despotic Governments." Eight of the other thirteen states made similar pledges.  When the [[Constitutional Convention]] drafted the original Constitution, the proposal was criticized for failing to include a [[Bill of Rights]].  So the First Congress drafted the Bill of Rights (including a provision for Freedom of the Press) and sent it to the states for [[ratification]].

As with freedom of speech, freedom of the press is not an unlimited right and the contours have been interpreted by court cases.  In ''[[Near v. Minnesota]]'' (1931),<ref>''[[Near v. Minnesota]]'' 283 U.S. 697 (1931)</ref> the Supreme Court rejected [[prior restraint]] (pre-publication censorship) as prohibited by the First Amendment. In this case, the [[Minnesota]] [[legislature]] passed a [[statute]] allowing [[court]]s to shut down "malicious, scandalous and defamatory newspapers", allowing a defense of truth only in cases where the truth had been told "with good motives and for justifiable ends".<ref>Lewis, Anthony (2007). Freedom for the Thought That We Hate: A Biography of the First Amendment. Basic Books. pp. 43. ISBN 978-0-465-03917-3. OCLC 173659591</ref> In a 5–4 decision, the Court applied the Free Press Clause to the states, rejecting the statute as unconstitutional.

As with freedom of speech, freedom of the press is not an unlimited right and the contours have been interpreted by court cases.  In ''[[Near v. Minnesota]]'' (1931),<ref>''[[Near v. Minnesota]]'' 283 U.S. 697 (1931)</ref> the Supreme Court rejected [[prior restraint]] (pre-publication censorship) as prohibited by the First Amendment. In this case, the [[Minnesota]] [[legislature]] passed a [[statute]] allowing [[court]]s to shut down "malicious, scandalous and defamatory newspapers", allowing a defense of truth only in cases where the truth had been told "with good motives and for justifiable ends".<ref>Lewis, Anthony (2007). Freedom for the Thought That We Hate: A Biography of the First Amendment. Basic Books. pp. 43. ISBN 978-0-465-03917-3. OCLC 173659591</ref> In a 5–4 decision, the Court applied the Free Press Clause to the states, rejecting the statute as unconstitutional.

<blockquote>"Publications, performances, and other exhibits offensive to public morality shall be prohibited. Measures of preventive and repressive measure against such violations shall be established by law."</blockquote>

<blockquote>"Publications, performances, and other exhibits offensive to public morality shall be prohibited. Measures of preventive and repressive measure against such violations shall be established by law."</blockquote>

==References==

==References==

[[Category : First Amendment]]

[[Category:First Amendment]]

[[Category : Bill of Rights]]

[[Category:Journalism]]

[[Category : Journalism]]

[[Category:Censorship]]

[[Category : Censorship]]

[[Category:Media]]

[[Category : Media]]