The First Amendment & Freedom of Expression Principles of Journalism/Week 4 Journalism s Creed: To hold power to account
The First Amendment We re The interested U.S. Bill today of in Rights which one?
Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances
Why is the first amendment so important? Without it, horrors like this are much more likely Only in Egypt you think? Guess again.
The 1970s are ancient history you think? Guess again...
Free speech triumphs over brutality
Some 1st Amendment history John Milton in the 1600s: Give me liberty to know, to utter and to argue freely according to conscience, above all liberties. Thomas Paine in the late 1700s: An Englishman who came to America and advocated revolution and independence through his pamphleteering An Occupy demonstrator of his time?
Thomas Paine Unlike Thomas legal rights, Paine: We natural have rights, a natural also called right to inalienable govern outselves, rights, are rather not contingent than be governed on the laws, by customs, inherited beliefs aristocracy. of a particular society. They are universal. Every human being has them. What are natural rights?
More history The U.S. Constitution did not contain the freedoms enumerated later in Bill of Rights The Bill of Rights the first 10 amendments to Constitution went into effect Dec. 15, 1791 The First Amendment s 45 words were drafted by James Madison
What did James Madison say? I believe there are more instances of the abridgment of freedom of the people by gradual and silent encroachments by those in power than by violent and sudden usurpations. Is this happening today?
The philosophical/moral basis for the 1st Amendment James Madison, Thomas Jefferson and other framers all products of the Age of Enlightenment Eschewed superstition and intolerance Believed in power of reason, search for the truth, perfectibility of humanity Saw debate, discovery and questioning of authority as indispensable to human progress Do you have faith that those qualities prevail today?
What does it protect? Freedom of speech Freedom of religion Freedom of assembly Freedom to protest and petition the government for redress Freedom of the press
Why press freedom? English common law held that criticism of the government was a crime Thomas Jefferson: No government ought to be without censors... A free press serves this role.
Thomas Jefferson:... were it left to me to decide whether we should have a government without newspapers, or newspapers without a government, I should not hesitate a moment to prefer the latter. How does government feel about the press?
Let s shift a bit 1940s: West Virginia law required students and teachers to salute the flag and recite the Pledge of Allegiance Students who failed to comply were expelled Denied readmission until they complied Exposed children and parents to criminal prosecution
Do you think the government has a right to tell you, as a student, that you must salute the flag before class? How might the 1st Amendment apply?
W. Virginia State Bd. of Ed. vs Barnette Jehovah s Witnesses brought the case They said the requirement violated their religious beliefs The court overturned the requirement But not on freedom of religion grounds Instead, the state cannot compel speech
... if there is any fixed star in our constitutional constellation, This it Supreme is that no Court official, decision high or petty, can prescribe what held that shall the be orthodox Free Speech in politics, nationalsim, Clause religion, protected or force students citizens to from confess by word or act being their forced faith therein. to salute the Justice Robert Jackson, West Virginia v. Barnette, 1943 American flag and say the Source: http://www.firstamendmentcenter.org/about.aspx?item=about_firstamd Pledge of Allegiance in school.
Free press & free speech: what s the difference? Free speech: People can say what they want Free press: Government is limited in regulating the press
Landmark free press decisions
Sullivan vs N.Y. times A groups takes out ad in N.Y. Times advocating for civil rights City Commissioner in Montgomery, Ala. (Sullivan) claims minor factual errors have libeled him Supreme Court throws out Sullivan s case
Definitions Defame: to harm someone s reputation Libel: to defame someone in print, pictures, T.V., radio or film Slander: to defame someone verbally
Back to Sullivan vs N.Y. times The Supreme Court threw out Sullivan s case! WHY?
Reasoning & Decision Allowing libel lawsuits in cases like this would "chill" criticism of public officials Decision: a plaintiff seeking libel damages must prove that a false statement was made with actual malice Meaning: The writer knew it was false & said it anyway Or showed reckless disregard for the truth Extended later to include public figures. Finding balance: avoiding press self-censorship vs protecting people from defamatory falsehood FYI: The standard is different with private citizens.
N.Y. Times vs United States June 13, 1971: Times began publishing Pentagon Papers U.S. Government won a restraining order preventing further publication The first time the federal government had tried to impose prior restraint on press in the name of national security June 30: U.S. Supreme Court rules that publication can resume
Justice Potter Stewart "In absence of governmental checks and balances, the only effective restraint upon executive policy and power... may lie in an enlightened citizenry - in an informed and critical public opinion which alone can here protect the values of democratic government."
Can you say anything at any time? The language of 1st Amendment is strong; presumption is that speech is protected But not an unlimited right. Supreme Court has rejected speech without limits You can t shout fire in a crowded theater
What are the limits? Clear and present danger: No protection for provocation of violence or incitement of illegality Fighting words: inflict injury or incite immediate breach of the peace. (Narrowed over time.) Obscenity: does not enjoy protection. But what s obscene? We know it when we see it... Conflict w/other legitimate social or governmental interests: E.g, in times of war, national security 1st Amendment rights may be limited Defamatory and libelous speech not protected More info: http://www.freedomforum.org/packages/first/curricula/educationforfreedom/supportpages/l04-limitsfreedomspeech.htm
Broadcast limited more than print Over the air broadcasting is regulated by federal government. On what basis? Assumption: radio spectrum and channels are scarce. And they are public resources. No such limitation on print Government can censor broadcasting by granting exclusive licenses to some people, but not all
Broadcast limited more than print Federal Communications Commission has statutory authority to regulate broadcast of obscene, indecent and profane material Obscene material banned completely. Indecent material is okay for adults; must be channeled to late-night hours FCC: Bono s this is really, really f***ing brilliant at Golden Globe was violation More info: http://www.firstamendmentcenter.org/pdf/firstreport.indecency.levi.final.pdf
Self regulation The press has typically been a profit-making enterprise Citizens may choose which media they want to consume So offending our viewers and readers is unwise
Responsibilities We are essential to self-government What we have to report might be controversial or distasteful. We may have to report things that people vehemently disagree with. So we journalists must gather information fairly and accurately to support what we are reporting We must use good judgement. When might it be inadvisable to report on something?
1st Amendment Protections Broadened Supreme Court s Citizen s United decision Corporations, labor unions, etc. have right to spend as much money as they want on behalf of political candidates Caveat: No direct contributions to candidates
1st Amendment News What do opponents of the ruling say? Massive corporate spending will skew elections, undermining democracy Judicial activism: The judges imposed their will despite long-standing political consensus. (McCain-Feingold)
1st Amendment Broadened What do proponents of the ruling say? The ruling restores political speech to the primacy it was intended to have under the First Amendment. (WSJ 1/22/10) The predictions of catastrophe are overblown States w/unlimited corporate political spending are among the best governed
1st Amendment Broadened General Motors spent $3 billion on advertising in 2008 Let s say GM will now spend 10% on political advertising $300 million by just one corporation
Questions to Ponder Will some entities now have a greater right to speak than others, simply because of their deep pockets? If so, is that a problem? If it s a problem, how might trends in the news industry contribute to it? Consider this