{"id":378770,"date":"2026-09-15T09:56:05","date_gmt":"2026-09-15T13:56:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/?p=378770"},"modified":"2026-09-18T09:50:34","modified_gmt":"2026-09-18T13:50:34","slug":"where-americans-view-the-limits-of-press-freedom","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/journalism\/2026\/09\/15\/where-americans-view-the-limits-of-press-freedom\/","title":{"rendered":"Where Americans view the limits of press freedom"},"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

The First Amendment protects the freedom of the press from restrictions by the government, and most Americans say this is highly important to the well-being of society<\/a>. But there are<\/strong> few press freedom absolutists,<\/strong> and Americans hold a wide range of opinions on how press freedom should play out in practice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For example, few say it is always<\/em> acceptable for the government to force journalists to reveal unnamed sources. But many see this as warranted in some cases.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

There are also lines that some Americans think news organizations should not regularly cross, like publishing confidential information from government sources or classified details during a military conflict.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

These attitudes often differ along party lines. In the midst of the second Trump administration, Democrats (including independents who lean Democratic) tend to be more likely than Republicans and GOP leaners to oppose government actions toward news organizations, and to have a broader perspective of what is acceptable for journalists to report and publish.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This is part of a broader Pew Research Center study from the Pew-Knight Initiative<\/a> exploring U.S. adults\u2019 views of press freedom today. Read key findings from the full study<\/a>, which included two surveys of U.S. adults and a series of 10 focus groups.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How should the U.S. government act toward journalists?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Should the U.S. government be able to give journalists special access in exchange for positive coverage? What about forcing journalists to reveal their sources, or taking away a news organization\u2019s broadcast license?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Far more U.S. adults say these government actions are never<\/em> acceptable than say they are always<\/em> acceptable. For example, 35% say it is never acceptable for the U.S. government to force journalists to reveal the identity of unnamed government sources, compared with 5% who say this is always acceptable.<\/p>\n\n\n

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Americans hold mixed views on U.S. government actions toward journalists or news organizations<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
% of U.S. adults who say it is __ acceptable for the U.S. government to \u2026<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
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Note: Respondents who did not answer are not shown.<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
Source: Pew Research Center survey of U.S. adults conducted June 22-28, 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\t
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