Free press for all

Since the emergence of the Daily Forty-Niner 49 years ago, students have had innumerable opportunities to widely access freedom of the press.

Scores of journalists before us had to fight to detail the wording of the First Amendment, establishing precedent cases in the high courts that now give exclusive freedoms to journalists nationwide. Such a liberal system has allowed for the dissemination of information, the right to comment and report on the arts and public policy, and the right to encourage reader response through pragmatic criticism on the opinion page.

Not having the right to freely report on public affairs would directly and severely alter the way we live our lives.

Our media are allowed great freedoms when reporting on government proceedings and records, public officials, public figures and court cases. The press is allowed access to any records from the executive branch of the federal government through the Freedom of Information Act, passed in 1966.

Federal courts have put the burden of proof on the plaintiff, requiring them to establish that the media published information with actual malice or negligence. If members of the media are sued, nine specific defenses have been established to aid them in a legal battle. It is a glorious system that should not be abused.