Freedom of press
Free Expression and Freedom of the Press
Acorrding to John Keane , “A free press is the ally of happiness”, wrote in 1793 (Keane 65). This quote express the long held idea that the free press, or in other word, freedom of expression, should be considered as a basic human right. As Matthew Tindal, an eminent English deist author, claims “Restrictions on the press are un-Christian and contrary to natural right” (Keane, 2011). The “liberty of the press” functioned only as a “bold and infectious utopian notion” until the middle of nineteenth century in both America and Britain (Keane, 2011). Beginning in the 16th century and continuous into the present day, freedom of the press continues to be an important ideal. This paper will highlight a few specific events and concepts in the 16th , 18th and 21st centuries through the lens of freedom of the press and freedom of expression. I will discuss Martin Luther’s contributions on free expression as an essential part of the Reformation’s influences on weakening the church’s monopoly in 16th century; then moving to 18th century, I will argue the relationship between the growing press market and freedom of the press after the success of American Revolution, I will also give an example of the zoot suit phenomenon happened in early 20th century which I think is related to the idea of freedom of press; finally I will discuss the corporations and state surveillance on people’s free expression and press freedom which is now happening in the 21th century. The Reformation, the rise of a social movement in the sixteenth century against church monopoly and reformed the old Church in Europe. Martin Luther, the main sponsor of the Reformation, advocated the idea that ordinary people be involved in religious activities more directly by reading and understanding the Bible that he wrote in the vernacular ( Briggs and Burke, 2002). In the sixteenth century and earlier, information and knowledge were monopolized by the
Acorrding to John Keane , “A free press is the ally of happiness”, wrote in 1793 (Keane 65). This quote express the long held idea that the free press, or in other word, freedom of expression, should be considered as a basic human right. As Matthew Tindal, an eminent English deist author, claims “Restrictions on the press are un-Christian and contrary to natural right” (Keane, 2011). The “liberty of the press” functioned only as a “bold and infectious utopian notion” until the middle of nineteenth century in both America and Britain (Keane, 2011). Beginning in the 16th century and continuous into the present day, freedom of the press continues to be an important ideal. This paper will highlight a few specific events and concepts in the 16th , 18th and 21st centuries through the lens of freedom of the press and freedom of expression. I will discuss Martin Luther’s contributions on free expression as an essential part of the Reformation’s influences on weakening the church’s monopoly in 16th century; then moving to 18th century, I will argue the relationship between the growing press market and freedom of the press after the success of American Revolution, I will also give an example of the zoot suit phenomenon happened in early 20th century which I think is related to the idea of freedom of press; finally I will discuss the corporations and state surveillance on people’s free expression and press freedom which is now happening in the 21th century. The Reformation, the rise of a social movement in the sixteenth century against church monopoly and reformed the old Church in Europe. Martin Luther, the main sponsor of the Reformation, advocated the idea that ordinary people be involved in religious activities more directly by reading and understanding the Bible that he wrote in the vernacular ( Briggs and Burke, 2002). In the sixteenth century and earlier, information and knowledge were monopolized by the