What Is Freedom of the Press?

Do you know about the Bill of Rights? It is part of the United States Constitution. The Bill of Rights protects our freedoms. Freedom of the press is part of the Bill of Rights. 

The press is another name for news reporters. Freedom of the press means people can publish the news. The government cannot stop them. There are limits. For example, you cannot publish lies about somebody. 

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Freedom of the press is older than the United States. In 1735, John Peter Zenger printed something. It was true. However, the Governor of New York did not like it. Zenger went on trial. A jury found him innocent. This was important to people. They wanted be able to print things even if the government didn’t like it. When the Founders created the United States, they included freedom of the press. 

Photo Credit: Alfred Fredericks (American landscapist, figure painter, and illustrator, active 1853-1907, died 1926)/Alamy Stock Photo

It is important to understand the news you see. That can be challenging. Some “news” is shared online. A lot of it isn’t true. You have to be very careful. Take steps to decide if you can trust something you read online.   

What Can You Do?  When you read something, take these steps. First, identify facts. Then, identify opinions. Next, look for overly positive words. Finally, look for overly negative words. They show an author’s feelings. Read multiple sources. 

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