Freedom of the press facts for kids
Freedom of the press is a promise by a government not to punish journalists (and other people who report the news) for doing their job. It is an idea like freedom of speech: it lets people express their opinions or beliefs. Many countries have laws or constitutional amendments protecting freedom of the press. The word "press" in the phrase comes from the printing press.
Restrictions
Like with freedom of speech, freedom of the press does not protect everything that a journalist writes. A journalist can be sued for libel, which is publishing false and damaging claims about a person. Publishing copyrighted material is not legal in many countries. Writing about state secrets, like military plans, weapon designs, or other classified information is almost always illegal.
Images for kids
-
In some countries, reporting on certain topics is prevented or restricted by governments.
-
Cumhuriyet's former editor-in-chief Can Dündar receiving the 2015 Reporters Without Borders Prize. Shortly after, he was arrested.
-
First page of John Milton's 1644 edition of Areopagitica
-
The Statute was adopted as the constitution of the Kingdom of Italy, granting freedom of the press.
-
Joseph Goebbels' Ministry of Public Enlightenment and Propaganda was a driving force of suppressing freedom of the press in Nazi Germany.
-
Newspaper Ora, in 1999, cover page.
-
Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi was a journalist and critic, but was murdered by the Saudi Government.
See also
In Spanish: Libertad de prensa para niños
