{"id":378759,"date":"2026-09-15T09:56:05","date_gmt":"2026-09-15T13:56:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/?p=378759"},"modified":"2026-09-18T09:50:34","modified_gmt":"2026-09-18T13:50:34","slug":"how-americans-define-press-freedom-in-their-own-words","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/journalism\/2026\/09\/15\/how-americans-define-press-freedom-in-their-own-words\/","title":{"rendered":"How Americans define press freedom in their own words"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
About this research<\/summary>\n

This report from the\u00a0Pew-Knight Initiative<\/a>\u00a0looks at how Americans think about freedom of the press, as well as the related First Amendment concept of freedom of speech, in the United States today.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Why we did this<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Pew Research Center has asked about press freedom and free speech both domestically and globally for the past decade. The topic has become especially relevant amid the changing media environment<\/a> and the evolving concept of \u201cthe press\u201d<\/a>; the growing role of technology companies as gatekeepers<\/a> to news and information; and President Donald Trump\u2019s tense relationship with the news media<\/a>, which has led some groups and individuals to raise concerns about whether press freedom is being restricted.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It is a good time to take a fresh look at Americans\u2019 views on press freedom in the U.S. \u2013 how they define it, what they think about its status and how they weigh it against other ongoing challenges in the news environment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Learn more about\u00a0Pew Research Center<\/a>\u00a0and our\u00a0research on news habits and media<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How we did this<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

We surveyed 3,507 U.S. adults from March 23 to 29, 2026, and 3,488 U.S. adults from June 22 to 28, 2026. Everyone who took part in these surveys is a member of the Center\u2019s American Trends Panel<\/a>. The surveys represent the views of the full U.S. adult population.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We also conducted 10 online focus group discussions led by SSRS with 74 U.S. adults, held from May 20 to June 4, 2026. These discussions do not represent the entire U.S. population. This report shares findings and quotes from the focus groups to help illustrate and add detail to the survey results. Quotes were lightly edited for spelling, punctuation and clarity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Here are the survey questions used for this report<\/a>, the detailed responses<\/a> and the methodology<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This is a Pew Research Center report from the Pew-Knight Initiative, a research program funded jointly by The Pew Charitable Trusts and the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation. Find related reports online at\u00a0https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/pew-knight\/<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/details>\n\n\n\n

To understand how people define press freedom, who they think it protects, how they think it differs from free speech and its importance to society,<\/strong> we spoke with 74 everyday Americans in 10 focus groups. These discussions do not reflect overall public opinion but reveal interesting insights into how people talk about these issues in their own words.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Even though many participants said they rarely think about freedom of the press in their daily lives, they broadly agreed it is important to them<\/a>, viewing it as a foundational element of a functioning society. But when asked to define press freedom, participants\u2019 answers varied widely, offering a window into the many ways Americans understand this concept.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This is part of a broader Pew Research Center study from the Pew-Knight Initiative<\/a> exploring how Americans view the freedom of the press today. Read key findings from the full study<\/a>, which also included two surveys of U.S. adults.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What do people think \u2018freedom of the press\u2019 is?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

At the beginning of each focus group, participants were asked to define \u201cfreedom of the press\u201d in their own words. Together, these definitions reveal that people think about press freedom in different ways, often without relying on one single definition.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, their ideas generally converged on a recognizable core: the ability to report or publish information freely.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

One man in his 50s defined it as both a right and a responsibility, saying, \u201cThe freedom of press is not only is the freedom to report actual news without fear of prosecution, but it\u2019s also the responsibility to do that. \u2026 You have a responsibility to the people.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Many defined press freedom as the ability to report \u201ctruth\u201d or \u201cfacts,\u201d<\/strong> often focusing on doing so \u201cwithout bias.\u201d<\/strong> In the focus groups, several participants defined \u201ctruth\u201d as information that can be independently verified through multiple sources or firsthand observation. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Others emphasized the right to share one\u2019s opinions or views<\/strong> without fear of punishment.<\/p>\n\n\n

\t\t
\n\t\t\t
\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t
\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
What do people think press freedom is?<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
Key themes in focus group participants\u2019 definitions of \u2018freedom of the press\u2019 include the freedom \u2026<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\n
\n
<\/colgroup>
To report what they want<\/th>“Ability to … put information out there on all sorts of things no matter how controversial”<\/td><\/tr>
“Ability to report freely on news stories”<\/td><\/tr>
“Can say what you want with no restrictions”<\/td><\/tr>
“Can say whatever they want without worrying”<\/td><\/tr><\/thead>
From government censorship<\/th>“Journalists and citizens can go about their business in relative freedom from official interference and investigation”<\/td><\/tr>
“Able to express their views without fear of government repercussions”<\/td><\/tr>
“Free from undue influences from the government”<\/td><\/tr>
“No censorship of the news”<\/td><\/tr>
From interference from other sources<\/th>“The press can present news\u2026without any form of censorship, from the government or other entity”<\/td><\/tr>
“Say whatever they want without their jobs or companies being threatened”<\/td><\/tr>
“Without outside interference\/influence \u2026 from the government but also billionaire CEOs”<\/td><\/tr>
“Without fear of retribution or retaliation or bribe”<\/td><\/tr>
To report truth or facts without bias<\/th>“To present the news in a non-biased, factual way”<\/td><\/tr>
“Ability to report without intentional bias”<\/td><\/tr>
“Freedom to say anything as long as it’s true and not fake news”<\/td><\/tr>
“Give the facts in an unrestricted way”<\/td><\/tr>
To share opinions and views<\/th>“Ability to express your opinions and ideas”<\/td><\/tr>
“Being able to be biased or politically focused”<\/td><\/tr>
“Right to express opinions outwardly”<\/td><\/tr>
To report on important events<\/th>“Being able to report on the topics that are important and significant”<\/td><\/tr>
“Being able to report on stories that are important for the public”<\/td><\/tr>
To access information or sources<\/th>“The press can have free and clear access to the place where the news is happening”<\/td><\/tr>
“Ability for media sources to explore, investigate, and gain knowledge”<\/td><\/tr>
For the public to access information<\/th>“Ability for the public to get accurate information”<\/td><\/tr>
“Ability to find information … on all sorts of things”<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
Source: Qualitative focus groups with 74 U.S. adults conducted May 20-June 4, 2026.
\n\u201cAmericans Value Press Freedom but Differ on Its Limits\u201d<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
PEW-KNIGHT INITIATIVE<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t
\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

Share this chart<\/h2>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t