Understanding the development of free expression concerned about the effects of communication all societies engage in a tug of war over expression why concerns over effects key idea changes in comm technology have unintended social consequences increase reach of free expression modern notions of free expression developed from experiences w printing press china prevents people from talking about certain topics turkey ban twitter gov ts concerned about what people say about them blasphemy things that go against the dominant religion tribal elders knew how to get water out of the ground they knew what to eat provide for yourself worried about expression new technology easier to circulate ideas writing on paper easier to circulate ideas to free to say whatever you want endorsing the ability of people to push dangerous wrong more people headed ideas free expression put it all out there and you get to decide Social changes brought upon by printing press 1 the spread and fragmentation of knowledge a knowledge into disciplines 2 challenged the authority of papacy a 1517 martin luther 95 theses b protestant reformation 3 spurred growing sense of nationalism a spread vernacular local languages Political powers could not control flow of ideas as easily as they used to solutions control everything that is being printed need a license from person in control won t give license to the trouble makers licensing first amendment freedom from prior restraint prevents the govt from censoring anything before it has actually been published censorship Prior restraint by government prior restraint make sure tv shows don t do anything to single censors exam question censorship by govt if they try to ban what you write throw you in jail to prevent you from writing something ex walmart decides not to carry nc criticized wal mart for selling guns and ammunition only private entity does it but not the government not censorship John Milton areopagitica 1644 wife thought he was boring trapped in a bad marriage but weren t allowed to publicly talk about divorce moral to divorce someone if you no longer love them thrown in jail treatise on free speech libertarian theory of the press libertarian theory of the press all ideas even false ones deserve to circulate on a free society bc people should have access to any idea that might help them In a free society the truth will eventually emerge from this clash of ideas The first amendment to the us constitution 1791 5 rules congress shall make no law respecting an establishment or religion or prohibiting free exercise there of or abridging the freedom of speech or of the press or the right of the people peaceably to assemble and to petition the government for a redress of grievances rely on free ability to express idea Libertarian theory means government cannot restrict speech except under very limited give publishers the freedom to do what they want including suppress speech circumstances prior restraint they don t like democracy best served by an active free press that can challenge any powerful interest and bring matters to the publics attention w o govt interference suggests that even awful stuff be available to the public crush videos pple aroused by watching small animals be crushed by women in high heels videos protected first amendment speech suggests that the way to combat speech you don t like is with more speech how fox news justified video of jordania polit being burned alive needed to see really how awful our enemies near you have to see libertarian etheory of the press argument westboro kansas church famous for protesting at the funeral at fallen us soldiers died bc god punishing america showing respect for gay people content neutral time place and manner restrictions regulate certain circumstances where speech can take place What the first amendment covers govt preventing expressions of speech gov t punishing speech by any representative of the govt except under very limited circumstances when govt has compelling case What the first amendment does not cover private entities preventing speech private entities punishing speech Consider these controversies over speech How much should the press curb criticism of the government in wartime Reveal info in harm s way true any restriction on money is a restriction on speech anything calling military into question aiding the enemy putting military claimed iraq had weapons of mass destruction ny times reported it not confidential source espionage can take pic of pple in public not private drones what about 9 11 and images cps and fox news showed videos of people falling to their deaths us military troops burn people kill them alive How much should media record celebrities lives swag bags 162 000 worth of brands loss of privacy ask for it can t use celebrities to sell products w o their information Should corporate speech enjoy same F A protections i e Citizens United at first only for individuals citizens unite 2010 hillary the movie anti hillary campaign run on pay per view fec did not allow it but supreme court allowed it bc use of free speech if you disclose who is paying for the political media can use any money restriction on money is a restriction on free speech corps spread money peacefully How should the press handle situations that may be offensive disturbing or graphic express horrors James Foley boston phoenix posted video of severed head every americans needs to see this Steven Sotloff Danny Pearl execution fb hunting photos nick ut vietnam 1971 pentagon paper chase Daniel Eisenberg former defense employee turned against america s military policy and leaked information of the press during vietnam leaked classified govt inform on m The internet is the most libertarian communication medium in history Social Responsibility Theory propaganda a lie people believe it bc its in media Concern following propaganda successes of World War I us isolationist committee of public info to join war on allies side too much political power b c uses newspapers to support candidates Concern over power of media moguls like W R Hearst press Bearing used newspaper to attack politicians he didn t like sent photographer to start war inappropriate pictures worrying about the effects media has on others started world war 1 committee on public information strong isolationist movement try to influence and change public opinion joining the war on the side of the allies bad stories about german babies used power and money to further