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The First Amendment: Why freedom of the press was revolutionary then and now

The truth has always been revolutionary, from the declaration of an independent United States of America to its success 250 years later.

Assistant Professor of Journalism Autumn Linford studies journalism history and said the Founding Fathers’ vision of America would not have come to be without freedom of the press.

“Press is a powerful megaphone with the ability to unite and spread ideas far,” Linford said. “Without a way to share ideas, great thinkers, including the Founding Fathers, would be left ineffective.”

Years before the American Revolution, criticizing the government was treason, a crime punishable by death. In 1735, a landmark case between printer John Peter Zenger and New York Royal Governor William Cosby introduced the truth as defense.

Zenger accused Cosby of corruption and tyranny, and Zenger went on trial for libel. Zenger’s lawyer argued that he printed the truth, so it could not be considered libel. Their success marked the beginning of what would become the free press.

“Truth became a defense in the Colonies,” Linford said. “Printers could publish criticisms of the government so long as it was true. They’d never had that kind of freedom before, but the founders knew it was important for the press to be able to criticize those in power if their new government by and for the people were ever to succeed.”

Patriots embraced a free press to ensure people could find, discuss and debate information, even to criticize the government. Notable examples included Anne Catherine Green’s arguments against British taxes in the Maryland Gazette and Paul Revere’s engraving of the Boston Massacre printed by Edes and Gill.

Most newspapers were independent at the time. Benjamin Franklin was the first to create a network of printers that published and distributed news across long distances, what we call “syndication” today.

As the conflict between Patriots and Loyalists waged in the press, now more widespread than ever, the divide between the parties deepened in the years leading up to the Revolution.

“It got ugly. It’s easy to think of history as predestined, but the people living during the Revolutionary period had no idea how everything would play out. Even the most radical printers thought of themselves as British until much later than you’d think,” Linford said. “Most people started by wanting reform, not revolution. More and more got on board with the patriot cause as time went on, but it was contentious and tense.”

The free press rallied people throughout the Revolution to keep fighting, and finally, the colonies fought off British forces and established the United States of America. When outlining the freedoms of the new nation, the Founding Fathers knew that free press would be foundational to every other right.

They called freedom of speech “the great bulwark of liberty” and “the fourth estate,” which would inform citizens about the government. Linford said they knew a democracy would only be successful if citizens could speak freely, even to criticize them.

“The Founding Fathers were clear: a government by the people and for the people only works when the people know what’s going on. They argued that even voting is useless without a press,” Linford said. “A free press acts as a watchdog, ensuring abuses of power are caught out, but also provides information that we all rely on to make decisions.”

Those decisions range from what a person is wearing to which shows they’re watching, and it’s all based on the information structure that began just before the Revolution.

Without a free press, decisions at the voting booth can be manipulated and undermine the freedom to change the government. The “consent to be governed” – a concept developed by Thomas Jefferson, which proclaims the government’s power is only justified if approved by the people – relies on the free and accurate flow of information.

Today, the press acts as a watchdog for governmental power, a constant stream of information and a marketplace for ideas. Linford said while the press has changed since the birth of the nation, it’s still essential to democracy.

“Just as the founders said, a democracy only works when the people are informed and allowed to ask questions and challenge their leaders,” Linford said. “As we’ve seen in other countries, the first step in overthrowing a democracy is getting rid of a free press. The press is not perfect in America, but the freedom of the press continues to be the bulwark to America’s freedom as a country.”

Learn more about journalism research at the School of Communication and Journalism website.

Tags: Communication and Journalism Faculty Research