freedom of the press

noun phrase

: the right of newspapers, magazines, etc., to report news without being controlled by the government

Examples of freedom of the press in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

But at least 16 journalists have been detained in the recent anti-government protests that erupted after Maduro claimed victory, according to Espacio Public, a Venezuelan organisation that measures freedom of the press. —Harriet Marsden, theweek, 17 Nov. 2024

The Nationalists imposed martial law in Taiwan, cracking down on free association, restricting freedom of the press, legislating against the establishment of new political parties, and putting in place sweeping powers of arrest. —Will Buckingham, The Dial, 27 Nov. 2024

The government also launched several high-profile initiatives to increase transparency and accountability, including pilot projects in Beijing and Shanghai, and sought to bolster the still limited freedom of the press. —Julian Gewirtz, Foreign Affairs, 29 Sep. 2022

Iranian President Hassan Rouhani also opposes many of Khamenei’s positions, particularly in the cultural arena, including freedom of the press, censorship of books, music, cinema, theater, and the role of women in the society. —Akbar Ganji, Foreign Affairs, 24 Sep. 2015

Legal Definition

freedom of the press

: the right to publish and disseminate information, thoughts, and opinions without restraint or censorship as guaranteed under the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution

Note: The First Amendment's guarantees of freedom of speech and freedom of the press are closely intertwined, and many cases relating to freedom of the press are couched in terms of the freedom of speech.