COMM ST 10 Chapter Notes - Chapter N/A: John Peter Zenger, The Wall Street Journal, Seditious Libel

• School: UCLA
• Department: Communication Studies
• Course: COMM ST 10
• Professor: Professor Suman

Document Summary

Founding fathers (including thomas jefferson): importance of the free flow of information for maintaining democracy newspapers pursue the truth & publish it, regardless of government opinions. 59 b. c: romans posted daily events (public news sheets) timely aspect for updates. Up to middle ages: news distribution under strict control of secular and religious authorities. Mid-15th century to early-17th century: printers in europe had to struggle for right to publish, due to strongly enforced restrictions (some punished severely for defying monarch"s authority) 17th century: newspapers first began to thrive in weak-authority areas (ex. Germany) political climate in europe allowed for lessened government control led to basic principles of free press. Marketplace of ideas: supported freedom of expression stated that the best ideas (and, ultimately, the truth) emerge victorious from competition of varied ideas in a free and open debate. Press = watchdog of the government (reveals government"s mistakes &