Freedom of the Press - John Peter Zenger!

Greetings everyone!

In addition to reading Chapter 3 of the American Nation textbook for homework, I need for you to read the short article provided in THIS LINK.

http://www.earlyamerica.com/earlyamerica/bookmarks/zenger/
This article deals with John Peter Zenger who, you may recall, published articles comparing the governor of New York to a monkey resulting in the closure of his printing press. The ensuing lawsuit established freedom of the press in the 13 colonies that would form the original 13 US States.

For the last part of this week's blog assignment, it is your mission to:

1. Read the short article

2. Students with the last name A-L will provide a short summary and a short reflection making the connection between the Zenger case and current issues pertaining to freedom of the press (e.g., specific examples of how it has protected society in recent years [investigative reporting], or how it has been restricted [ban on press access to coffins of killed US troops 2001-2009])

3. Students with the last name M-Z will make a response comment to those original posts published by your classmates. Respond by stating what YOU felt about the Zenger case and to what extent you agree with the original poster and WHY (using the types of examples mentioned in #2). These response comments must amount to at least 1 paragraph.

The deadline for this assignment is 11:59 PM on Monday, Sept. 20, 2010. Please shoot me an email if you have any questions!

PS: The John Peter Zenger assignment is the only blog work you need to do this weekend!

FREEDOM!(of the Press) Peter Zenger 1734

For 260 years the amendment Freedom of the Press is what protects the media from being thrown in jail for just telling the truth. Well lets go back to that one day in 1734, the day that changed the colonies forever. It all started on February 23, 1734, on an issue of the New-York Daily Journal, CATO (journalist) wrote many articles that were very critical on the recently fired Governor William Cosby. Cosby saw these articles and put Zenger to trial, but Zenger countered it by hiring an illustrious Philadelphia lawyer Andrew Hamilton. By a unanimous decision the court found Zenger "Not Guilty". Hamilton went on and established the precedent that would be signed onto the constitution 57 years later on December 15, 1791 of what we now call home, The United States of America.

Throughout the years, freedom of the press is interpreted as that the press can write the truth about anyone who is involved in something big. One obvious example was Michael Jackson's death a year ago. Many tabloids were blaming Jackson's doctor for killing him, yet Michael was very aware that whatever he took could kill him, but he wanted it anyway. This incident was all over the news and Jackson's doctor didn't say a word about them because they were pretty much on the dot. Also, since we are in the U.S., all press were allowed in the investigations and basically let the public know the 411 on what was happening. The media outlets are all in a no holds barred war for dominance and whoever is the best truth teller, the first amendment will protect them no matter what.