James Madison’s Report to the Virginia House of Delegates, 1800
James Madison, author of the First Amendment, wrote what is surely the most powerful defense of freedom of the press in America. He did it in protest against the Sedition Act of 1798, enacted just seven years after ratification of the First Amendment.
Lata Nott Podcast: Free Speech and the Internet
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 […]
Authors Share Excerpts on Free Speech: Amy Gajda and The First Amendment Bubble
The First Amendment Bubble , "In determining the news that’s fit to print, U.S. courts have traditionally declined to second-guess professional journalists. But in an age when news, entertainment, and new media outlets are constantly pushing the envelope of acceptable content, the consensus over press freedoms is eroding." - Harvard University Press
Journalist Arrests Threaten Freedom of Press
Thomas Hughes and Jodie Ginsburg write that “Journalists are facing an unprecedented and unrelenting crackdown on their work that appears to come more from the playbook of dictatorial demagogues than […]
Junius Wilkes on Protections Even for “False and Groundless” Reports
A writer who took the name Junius Wilkes made a critical contribution to the discussion of press freedom in 1782. He argued that the press should be protected for criticisms of government officials “when they even appear false and groundless.”
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.