Skip to main content
Annenberg Classroom

Freedom of the Press

This First Amendment right allows the press to report and publish news without government restrictions.

6 resources available

Video

First Amendment: New York Times v Sullivan

This film examines freedom of the press, an essential First Amendment right, through the key Supreme Court Case New York Times v. Sullivan. It traces the relationship of the press to the Civil Rights movement of the 1960’s, and the ways in which proponents of segregation tried to use libel claims via the courts to prevent coverage of the violence inflicted upon peaceful protestors.

Game

NewsFeed Defenders

Our media literacy game teaches players how to detect and disregard disinformation and misinformation in today’s chaotic environment. Make your students’ gameplay more meaningful by using our activity and assessment set designed specifically for NewsFeed Defenders. An easy-to-use Extension Pack helps you give context and purpose to the game, as well as reinforce and assess the game concepts.

Video

Freedom of the Press: New York Times v. United States

This documentary examines the First Amendment’s protection of a free press as well as the historic origins of this right and the ramifications of the landmark ruling in New York Times v. United States, the Pentagon Papers case, in which the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that prior restraint is unconstitutional.

Book

Chapter 7: The Right to Freedom of the Press

The founders of the United States believed a free press was a prerequisite for a free society. James Madison, often called the Father of the Constitution, said it was “one of the great bulwarks of liberty.”

Timeline

First Amendment – Freedom of the Press

The First Amendment protects the free press, including television, radio and the Internet. The media are free to distribute a wide range of news, facts, opinions and pictures.