{"id":195836,"date":"2024-12-20T09:28:36","date_gmt":"2024-12-20T14:28:36","guid":{"rendered":""},"modified":"2025-04-24T17:22:43","modified_gmt":"2025-04-24T21:22:43","slug":"topic-freedom-of-the-press","status":"publish","type":"fact-sheet","link":"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/fact-sheet\/topic-freedom-of-the-press\/","title":{"rendered":"Topic: Freedom of the press"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\"Then-Transportation
Then-Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg speaks to reporters in February 2023 at the site of the Norfolk Southern train derailment in East Palestine, Ohio. (Michael Swensen\/Getty Images)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n
Legislative Semester Topic Briefs<\/a><\/div>
Affirmative Action in College Admissions<\/a>Freedom of the Press<\/a>Government Aid to Immigrants in the U.S. Illegally<\/a>Gun Ownership and Regulation<\/a>Legalizing Marijuana<\/a>Prayer in Schools<\/a>Why Public Opinion Matters and How To Measure It<\/a><\/div><\/i> Download PDF<\/a><\/div>\n\n\n

Background<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution protects freedom of speech and freedom of the press. A free press is often seen as a hallmark of a healthy democracy. At its best, it informs citizens on issues and events that impact their lives and allows them to hold the politicians that serve them accountable.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In recent years, there has been a lot of discussion about both the state of press freedom in the United States and whether there is ever a legitimate reason for freedom of the press to be restricted.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Public opinion polling says \u2026<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Pew Research Center asked a representative sample of American adults about press freedom in April 2024.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Here\u2019s what we found:<\/p>\n\n\n\n