Media and The First Amendment

"The Zenger case of 1734 established a legal precedent, stating the press was allowed to print whatever it chose, as long as it was true." MD

"In writing the constitution, our nation's founders expected that the people would watch their government carefully, but they could not do this without a free press. People cannot see everything that happens in the government. It is when the public does not know what is going on that politicians and officials of unscrupulous habits defraud the people." OH

"For years the press has been screaming out Freedom of speech! and Freedom of the press! every time there is any controversy over a story that they have run. These privileges allow them to get away with just about anything. If Congress could pass laws which would regulate the coverage the media gives each candidate, narrowing coverage to covering his stand on political issues, part of the problem would be solved." VA

"To make a law against what the media reports is wrong and unlawful. We hurt only ourselves when we begin limiting our freedoms. Our rights of free speech and press are too fragile and precious to be taken away. We had to fight for these freedoms once and we must continue to fight for them." OH

"The freedom of the press is not the freedom to write down whatever anyone feels like, but it is a cherished right for the people. It is the right of knowledge and power." IL

"Congress could enact some laws that do not threaten the first amendment. First of all there could be a law that requires the media to give out its sources when it makes a far-fetched story. Second, they could allow candidates to sue the media if false stories are reported about them. Finally Congress could pass laws making the media report what is fact and fiction." KS

"It is time that America makes a choice between upholding the first amendment, the freedom of speech, or possibly facing the chance of the media choosing who they want in office." FL

"(We) should create and agree upon...set guidelines...strict enough to review and check what the media does, but still allow substantial freedom of press." TX

"The mass media have power. This power was issued to them by the Constitution of the United States. The First Amendment. . . " AL

"With any freedom, there will always be an abuse of it. There will always be someone who goes too far and while expressing a basic right, violates the rights of those around him. The media is guilty of expanding their freedom too. While the idea of freedom of press is an extraordinary concept, it is not a perfect concept." PA

"Due to Freedom of the Press, a right granted in the First Amendment, it is unusually difficult to control the media. Passing laws regulating media is unconstitutional." OH

"Communities could set up public committees to control local journalists. Some might argue that this suggestion infringes on freedom of the press, but candidates have a right to privacy and this right has definitely been infringed upon." VA

"I couldn't say that I think that there should be government regulation of the media because it would go against the Constitution of the United States. However, I do think that the media shouldn't use the freedom of press and freedom of speech as an excuse for writing their opinions." OK

"The freedom of the press lets us see the truth, albeit somewhat distorted. It will always be better to see the world through the scrutinizing, unblinking eye of a free media than the sensitive, controlling eye of censorship. Freedom of the press is what makes our country great. And if you want to make it better, run for office." NH

"The founding fathers feared despotism, and they were aware that one of the tools that the British monarchy had used to manipulate the people was a controlled press. In England men and women had died in the struggle for a free press: they had been imprisoned, whipped, pilloried, put on rack, had their hands and ears cut off, their noses slit, their faces branded---all for the crime of expressing their opinions in print. So the founders created a free press in America. It was frequently strident, often shrill, sometimes pugnacious." NY

"The gossip magazines and their reporters should be banned from printing exaggerations and falsehoods like they do. I saw a magazine with Bill Clinton shaking hands with a space alien on the front cover. I cannot see why anybody would buy something like that unless they needed a good laugh...Congress could pass a law prohibiting gossip magazines." PA

"When the Constitution was being amended for the first time, the adoption of an amendment dealing with the freedom of the press was an issue hotly debated; there were those who declared that the freedom of the press should be limited, as so it would not harm people or government; and at the other extreme were those who believed the press should have an unlimited freedom.

In regard to a restricted freedom, Alexander Hamilton said, 'What is freedom of the press? Who can give it any definition which does not leave the utmost for evasion? I hold it to be impracticable; and from this I infer, that its security, whatever fine declarations may be inserted in any Constitution regarding it, must altogether depend on public opinion, and on the general spirit of the people and of the government.' " OH

"The power of the press can be curbed without any limitations on the right of free-speech." OK

"Congress shall make no law. . . abridging the freedom of speech or the press. These words, found in the First Amendment of the United States Constitution, give the media a great deal of power. The media can command attention, define issues, shape the agenda of public discussion, and even influence the calendar of Congress.

The news media is able to act as a watchdog, informing the public of corruption, scandal, or misguided policies in order to put an end to it. Watergate is one example where the press truly helped the public. By exposing the scandal, the situation was dealt with and ended.

But perhaps even more important is the role that the media plays in choosing our candidates for national office. This job is an essential one and one that needs to be evaluated. Is the press accurately informing the public of the candidates' views on issues? Is press coverage biased and unfair? Does the media present all the information necessary for the public to make a valid choice? All of these questions must be answered to determine whether its role is being properly fulfilled." MD

"On the principle that a free people cannot long enjoy such a condition without a free flow of information, the founding fathers adopted the First Amendment to the Constitution which strictly forbids Congress from making any law 'abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press.'

But government officials, and especially presidents, have not been so willing to concede the founders' wisdom. For in adopting the First Amendment, they created an independent press that, with certain exceptions that have evolved in case law, is answerable to no one but its customers and its conscience. Presidents have positions and programs to push, and they want the people to agree with them. They also do and say things they do not wish the public to know about.

During the struggle for freedom, our forefathers were in constant danger of punishment for exercising the rights of freedom of speech and freedom of the press. Again the cause of their danger was the intolerance of men in power toward others with different views. The framers of the Constitution provided that we, their descendants, need not fear to express our sentiments as they did.

Yet the question arises: How much ground do these privileges cover? There are some who use them as a cloak for covering libelous, indecent, and injurious statements against their fellow men. Should the morals of this nation be offended and polluted in the name of freedom of speech or freedom of the press?" NY

"The media are becoming warped by the need to sensationalize stories in order for them to appeal to the public. However, the media are not serving the public by doing this, but they are only harming those whom they were created to serve. By covering candidates equally and concentrating on only the political issues, the media will again be able to carry out their duties while utilizing the freedoms they are granted in the First Amendment." OH

"The First Amendment protects the media from governmental controls. The media, though, tends to push itself past the limits of decency and safety." OH

"In 1791 the first amendment of the United States constitution was ratified. It stated the freedom of the press, as well as other personal freedoms and liberties." IL