Freedoms media people should enjoy
These are freedoms media are supposed to enjoy, but they are not always present.The relationship between the media and government varies from nation to nation. In the United States, these are freedoms the media enjoy or should enjoy.
This is a gray area. Although media workers claim this freedom (free from government interference) the Pentagon Papers present one example of censorship. (The Pentagon Papers) and more on the Pentagon Papers from the National Security Archive.
To criticize government and those who run it
This is a clear freedom. Media have free rein when discussing the lives of politicians. Is this appropriate? Do officials give up all their privacy when entering public life? Click here to find out.
To withhold confidential sources
This is a gray area. Although media workers may say they do not have to reveal their sources and they are protected by a Shield Law, it does not always work that way. A judge may hold reporters in contempt of court for refusing to reveal sources. (Myron Farber of the New York Times were jailed for contempt. See list of other reporters jailed for contempt.) Does Texas have a Shield Law? Click here to find out.
To exercise independent editorial judgment
This is a clear freedom, primarily for newspapers. The Supreme Court held in the Miami Herald v. Tornillo that the newspaper editor does not have to give over space in the editorial column for anyone other than editorial writers. The Court ruled unanimously that equal space and mandatory response laws are a clear violation of the First Amendment when applied to the print media.
Authoritarian, Libertarian and Social Responsibility rationales
Look here for Supreme Court cases
U.S. ranks 17th in world ranking of press freedom.
Click here for Reporters Without Borders and for the British view
Look here for Undercurrents, an interesting site for protest.
Back to Mass Media Stuff -- stuff I have collected over 28 1/2 years of teaching a beginning mass media course in journalism-photography at San Antonio College