Source: Pennsylvania Evening Post, Wikimedia Commons When it came time for the American colonies to declare independence from England and create their own system of government, they wanted to ensure that the press was independent and free from government censorship.įigure 2: This Jedition of the Pennsylvania Evening Post that printed the Declaration of Independence shows how quickly the press can spread information and ideas. Freedom of the Press AmendmentsĪs tensions grew in the years leading up to the American Revolution, England started trying to censor the press to control pro-revolution ideas. It means people and news sources should be able to print news, facts, and opinions without government censorship or retaliation. That's why Freedom of the Press is so important for sharing information and maintaining government accountability and transparency! Freedom of the Press Definitionįreedom of the Press is a right included in the United States Constitution. If newspapers omit certain facts or highlight others, the story can sound completely different, even if the facts are the same. Now, what if King George was in charge of newspapers? Which headline do you think he would use? The way we report the news impacts the way people understand the world. But the second one makes it sound like he's got your back. If you read the first headline, you would be feeling pretty angry towards the king. " King George Enacts Brilliant Plan to Improve the Country's Budget." " King George Forces his Subjects to Pay Higher Taxes," or International Climate Change AgreementsĬonsider these two fictional headlines about King George raising taxes:.Slavery and the Constitutional Convention. Philosophy of the Declaration of Independence.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |