Gene Policinski Commentary: ‘Weakening’ Libel Laws Is Not The Right Tactic – For Anyone
The Newseum Institute’s First Amendment expert, Gene Policinski, originally published this commentary on the Newseum blog, and has given First Amendment Watch permission to reprint. Making it easier to sue […]
Can President Trump Stop “Fire and Fury: Inside the Trump White House” From Being Published?
“Fire and Fury: Inside the Trump White House” went on sale on Friday. On Monday, a lawyer for Henry Holt shot down President Trump’s legal team libel claim writing, “it […]
Father of Candor Anticipated New York Times v. Sullivan Over 250 Years Ago
A writer calling himself Father of Candor was far ahead of his time when he attacked seditious libel in 1764. He argued that truth should be an absolute defense against libel, and that only intentional lies should be subject to libel laws.
Cincinnatus to James Wilson, 1787
Why was the Bill of Rights necessary to protect freedom of the press? An 18th-century writer argues that the Constitution did not adequately ensure that the government would not try to regulate the country's newspapers.
Candid argued in 1782 for new protections for the press from seditious libel. He maintained that the press should not only examine candidates for public office, but also private characters—those “who are eligible to it, or may influence others in their choice.”
Libel: Protecting Vital Political Speech
Until 1964 when the Supreme Court decided New York Times v. Sullivan, and extending back many centuries, public officials had the power to put down critics. They could easily win […]
U.S. Ninth Circuit Strikes Down Idaho’s Ag Gag Law
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit ruled that Idaho’s ag gag law that criminalized the making of undercover videos at agricultural facilities violates the First Amendment. The […]
Efforts to Protect College Media From Suppression Gain Traction
College Media Association President Chris Evans reviews efforts over the past year to ensure college press freedom. A 2016 report sponsored by the American Association of University Professors, the College […]