Conflicts
With every law there are problems, including Freedom of the Press. Even though the united states had the freedom to write what we want, there were still restrictions. We had the freedom to write our own thoughts and opinions, but if it was scandalous, seditious, or talked down upon public figures, punishment was expected. Many public figures would pay off authors and publishers to insure their "story" would not be put in the public media. If the story was published, anyone and everyone who read it would think differently of the person it was written about, this fear caused many people to pay off the journalists.
When the 1st amendment was committed, people abused the right to have it. They would write about nonfactual, scandalous, or bias subjects. For example, William Randolph Hearst (1863-1951) wrote nonfactual things about the War with Spain. These statements made the people reading believe things said that weren't true. These statements could effect how people thought about the war, and whether they were in danger and should leave the area. Even though we had the freedom of press, we abused the right and there were limits made to the right to allow people to say what they want, just with limits.
As technology becomes more advanced, the urgency for press freedom is increased. With more places sharing news even faster, with just the touch of a button, there is thought to put more restrictions on the freedom because news can travel so fast.
When the 1st amendment was committed, people abused the right to have it. They would write about nonfactual, scandalous, or bias subjects. For example, William Randolph Hearst (1863-1951) wrote nonfactual things about the War with Spain. These statements made the people reading believe things said that weren't true. These statements could effect how people thought about the war, and whether they were in danger and should leave the area. Even though we had the freedom of press, we abused the right and there were limits made to the right to allow people to say what they want, just with limits.
As technology becomes more advanced, the urgency for press freedom is increased. With more places sharing news even faster, with just the touch of a button, there is thought to put more restrictions on the freedom because news can travel so fast.
John Milton
John Milton's Areopagitica: A Speech for the Liberty of Unlicensed Printing to the Parliament of England (1644) has had a huge influence on the Freedom of the Press. The English Parliament did not let John Milton publish his Areopagitica before hand. He did not object to his punishment, and they now call his case "Prior Restraint''.