Free Press

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The practice of journalistic independence and freedom from governmental control.

First Amendment: The constitutional amendment that guarantees freedom of speech and press in the United States.
Journalism ethics: The principles and values that guide journalists in their work, such as accuracy, fairness, and independence.
The role of media in democracy: The function of media in providing citizens with information necessary to make informed decisions in a democratic society.
Media ownership and concentration: The issue of consolidation of media ownership and control by a few large corporations.
Media bias and objectivity: The question of whether the media presents news in an unbiased and objective manner, or if there is a political or ideological bias.
Press freedom and government censorship: The challenges journalism faces in countries where governments restrict or censor the press.
Public opinion and media: The relationship between media coverage and public opinion, including framing and agenda-setting effects.
New media and online journalism: The impact of digital technologies and the changing landscape of online journalism.
Media regulation and policy: The laws and regulations that govern the media industry and the policies that affect media development and matters.
Advertising and media funding: The role of advertising and other forms of media funding in the media ecosystem.
Print media: Newspapers, magazines, and other printed materials that are published regularly or periodically. These are typically the oldest forms of media and have a wide reach, with varying levels of credibility and bias.
Broadcast media: Television and radio programs that provide news, analysis, and other types of coverage to viewers or listeners. These media outlets can reach a large audience and provide in-depth coverage of events.
Online media: Websites, blogs, and social media platforms that provide news and other types of content to internet users. These platforms have become increasingly important in recent years and provide access to a vast amount of information from a wide range of sources.
Alternative media: Media outlets that exist outside of mainstream media and provide alternative perspectives and voices. These might include community-based newspapers, independent radio stations, and online news sites.
Citizen journalism: Individuals who report on events and issues as non-professional journalists. This might involve sharing information via social media, starting a blog, or contributing to a community newspaper.
Advocacy journalism: Journalists who use their work to advocate for a particular cause or issue. This might involve focusing on stories that shed light on injustices and abuses, or highlighting underrepresented voices and issues.
Yellow journalism: Sensational or overly dramatic reporting that prioritizes attracting readers over accurate reporting. This type of journalism is often criticized for its tendency to exaggerate or misrepresent facts.
Tabloid journalism: Similar to yellow journalism, this type of reporting focuses on sensationalized stories about celebrities, scandals, and other salacious topics.
Corporate or commercial media: Media outlets that are owned and controlled by large corporations, with a focus on generating profits and serving the interests of shareholders.
Public media: Media outlets that are publicly funded and operated as a service to the community. These might include public broadcasting stations, community newspapers, and other non-profit media organizations.
- "Freedom of the press or freedom of the media is the fundamental principle that communication and expression through various media... should be considered a right to be exercised freely."
- "Such freedom implies the absence of interference from an overreaching state."
- "Its preservation may be sought through the constitution or other legal protection and security."
- "It is in opposition to paid press, where communities, police organizations, and governments are paid for their copyrights."
- "State materials are protected due to either one of two reasons: the classification of information as sensitive, classified, or secret, or the relevance of the information to protecting the national interest."
- "Many governments are also subject to 'sunshine laws' or freedom of information legislation that define the ambit of national interest and enable citizens to request access to government-held information."
- "The United Nations' 1948 Universal Declaration of Human Rights states: 'Everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression; this right includes freedom to hold opinions without interference, and to seek, receive, and impart information and ideas through any media regardless of frontiers.'"
- "The depth to which these laws are entrenched in a country's legal system can go as far down as its constitution."
- "The concept of freedom of speech is often covered by the same laws as freedom of the press, thereby giving equal treatment to spoken and published expression."
- "Freedom of the press was formally established in Great Britain with the lapse of the Licensing Act in 1695."
- "Sweden was the first country in the world to adopt freedom of the press into its constitution with the Freedom of the Press Act of 1766."
- "...through various media, including printed and electronic media, especially published materials..."
- "communities, police organizations, and governments are paid for their copyrights."
- "the classification of information as sensitive, classified, or secret"
- "define the ambit of national interest and enable citizens to request access to government-held information."
- "The concept of freedom of speech is often covered by the same laws as freedom of the press, thereby giving equal treatment to spoken and published expression."
- "The United Nations' 1948 Universal Declaration of Human Rights"
- "This philosophy is usually accompanied by legislation ensuring various degrees of freedom of scientific research, publishing, and the press."
- "The Freedom of the Press Act of 1766."
- "Freedom of the press was formally established in Great Britain with the lapse of the Licensing Act in 1695."