John Peter Zenger published a newspaper in New York to voice opposition to the onerous policies of newly appointed colonial governor William Cosby in the year 1773. Supported by many of the members of the popular party, Zenger's New-York newspaper continued to publish articles critical of William Cosby. Cosby didn’t like it and he issued a proclamation condemning the newspaper's "divers scandalous, virulent, false and seditious reflections." On Sunday, November 17, 1734 Zenger was arrested and charged with seditious libel. Andrew Hamilton defended Zenger after about 8 months of being in prison. After a short time the jury decided that Zenger was not guilty. The truth is an absolute defense against libel.
I believe that today there is freedom of the press, but not exactly everywhere. Like for example all the bad things that are happening in Mexico. I believe there is no freedom of the press in Mexico because many bad things happen and yet they are not published in the newspaper. Rumors are heard that the newspapers are threatened to not publish everything that is going on.
Hi Topacio - excellent post. In Mexico there is freedom of the press, but it is also one of the countries of the world with the most dangers for journalists due to the violence of the drug gangs. Oftentimes the gangs due indeed threaten newspapers if they publish stories pertaining to the narco-wars - when newspapers do report on certain stories sometimes journalists are kidnapped or newspapers offices are blown up with bombs. Thus freedom of the press is protected by the Mexican Constitution, but the realities of life in this drug conflict makes any journalist's job much more difficult and dangerous.
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