The+Freedom+of+the+Press+and+the+Media


 * The Freedom of the Press and the Media**

revised 11/15/11

TimeLine: - 1439: [|Gutenberg] invents movable type printing - Leviathan Published - First and Second Treatise on Government Published - First American Newspaper - Copyright established. - Cato's Letters - The Trial of John Peter Zenger - 1742: David Hume writes [|Of the Liberty of the Press]. - [|Benjamin Franklin] becomes Postmaster General and becomes wealthy as a printer and publisher. - 1776: Declaration of Independence printed and distributed. - Hamilton and Jefferson use newspapers to promote their respective parties. - The Partisan Press - Telegraph - Photography - Yellow Journalism - The Spanish American War - The Federal Radio Commission - Fireside Chats - The Federal Communications Commission - Television - Nixon / Kennedy Debates - Satellite Communications - CNN - The Internet - Bloggers


 * Past written questions**

1. The [|trial of John Peter Zenger]was a benchmark in establishing press freedom in the colonies, and later the United States. Outline and discuss the case. What in fact did the case accomplish and how did it contribute to press freedoms? 2. Though we don't have censorship, generally, in the United States, prior restraint has been used to limit what the press can print and discuss. Review the concept as outlined by the [|First Amendment Center] and discuss when prior restraint can be used against the press. 3. The media is supposed to be where the public gets useful information about public affairs, but questions always exist whether the media is in fact doing an appropriate job. Using your web surfing skills, review the recent coverage of the health care reform debate and evaluate it. Where has it been useful and where has it not? Do certain media outlets tend to take certain views of the legislation? 4. The [|Federal Communications Commission] regulates the broadcast media, but is sometimes argued to be in fact a tool of the media industry. Detail the job function of the FCC, review the political issues associated with it and comment on this. Has the FCC become a "[|captured agency]?" - Wikipedia: [|FCC]. - [|**fcc-reform.org**] 5. Freedom.org equates press freedom with freedom in general. They also state that it is in decline around the world. Read the information in the following link and explain the argument they make: [|Freedom of the Press]. 6. The [|trial of John Peter Zenger]was a benchmark in establishing press freedom in the colonies, and later the United States. Outline and discuss the case. What in fact did the case accomplish and how did it contribute to press freedoms? 7. Read the "press topics" section in the First Amendment Center's website and discuss the controversies associated with the extent of press freedoms. What restrictions and controversies exist regarding the freedom of the press? 8. A current controversy concerns the future of journalism. Due to the openness of the internet, newspapers are dying, but online news may not be an effective replacement. Some argue that it is however and we may be entering a golden era of "citizen journalism." Research this question and evaluate what the impact the changed technological environment has for the future of the press.