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 […]
Iowa Judge Who Told Des Moines Register to Stop Story Publication Reverses His Own Order
Iowa Supreme Court Justice David Wiggins reversed his prior restraint order, allowing the Des Moines Register to publish its piece about lawyer Jaysen McCleary. The Des Moines Register quotes McCleary […]
Authors Share Excerpts on Free Speech: Erwin Chemerinsky & Howard Gillman and Free Speech on Campus
Free Speech on Campus "provides the background necessary to understanding the importance of free speech on campus and offers clear prescriptions for what colleges can and can’t do when dealing with free speech controversies." - Yale University Press
Lata Nott Podcast: Journalism in the Age of Trump
The Newseum Institute’s First Amendment expert, Lata Nott, originally published this podcast on the Newseum blog, and has given First Amendment Watch permission to reprint. In this episode of The First […]