Court Cases 1
This case eventually led New York State to change its law to permit truth as a defense after Harry Croswell was convicted of libel for printing a story critical of President Thomas Jefferson in his newspaper.
What is People v. Croswell?
This court ruling held that proof of actual malice is required for awards against libel that involve public officials or matters of public concern.
What is New York Times Co. v. Sullivan (1964)?
This is the time period that Cato, a pseudonym for Brits John Trenchard and Thomas Gordon, published essays criticizing the British for their corruption and tyranny on the American colonies.
What is the 1720s?
This is broadly defined as every sort of publication which affords a vehicle of information and opinion.
What is the press?
This prevents the government from censoring the Press.
What is the First Amendment?
The decision reached in this case extended protection of press freedom to the states through the Fourteenth Amendment.
What is Near v. Minnesota?
This Supreme Court case held that schools may restrict what is published in student newspapers if the papers have not been established as public forums.
What is Hazelwood School District v. Kuhlmeier (1988)?
During this year, Virginia becomes the first US state to formally protect the press.
What is 1776?
This is considered the knowledge of false information prior to publication but with reckless disregard for the truth and harmful intent.
What is malice?
Give a specific example of why the printing press is so important.
Examples: What is current information, people reading, affordable books, quickly share ideas, and better spelling and grammar
The ruling established in this case stated that unless a newspaper shows "reckless disregard for the truth," the speech therein is protected under the First Amendment.
What is Garrison v. Louisiana?
This landmark court decision invalidated the use of the First Amendment as a defense for reporters summoned to testify before a grand jury.
What is Branzburg v. Hayes?
This year marked the adoption of the First Amendment as part of the Bill of Rights, specifically including outlining the freedom of the press.
What is 1791?
This is the censorship of publications pre-publication.
What is prior restraint?
This person invented the printing press.
What is Johannes Gutenberg
Because of this case, statements made by police in criminal investigations, such as murder, are allowed to be published or broadcasted to the citizens.
What is Nebraska Press Association v. Stuart?
This case made it possible for newspapers to publish the then-classified Pentagon Papers without risk of government censorship or punishment.
What is New York Times Co. v. United States (1971)?
This 1798 Act made it illegal to "write, print, utter, or publish...any false, scandalous and malicious writing or writings against the government of the United States, or either House of the Congress of the United States, or the President."
What is the Sedition Act?
This is the tactic of using intimidation of legal or other consequences for publishing information that deters publishers from publishing.
What is the chilling effect?
In order to win a libel case, you must prove that the publisher of that libelous case did this.
Knew that the statement was false and acted with "reckless disregard" for the truth.
Here, the court ruled that the First Amendment does not give a television station the right to air the entire act of a performance without the performer's permission.
What is Zacchini v. Scripps-Howard Broadcasting?
This case concerned a publisher that was tried for seditious libel against the then-Governor of New York for calling out tyranny and violation of the people’s rights.
What is Crown v. John Peter Zenger (1735)?
Year that Freedom of the press was incorporated.
Near v. Minnesota.
What is 1931
Select states have these laws that protect journalists sources and informants from being disclosed.
What are shadow laws?
The government can censor publications on the basis of this.
What is national Security?