The importance of the first Amendment

What is the significance of the First Amendment with speech and press?

The first amendment is so important to journalists because it is the right to freedom of the press. A journalist has the right to report on what he or she wants to within what their boss allows them to do, or tells them to do. The point is that they have a right to report on what they and their station want, they are not restricted by the government. The government does have rules on libel to protect a citizen or company but they do not have restrictions on what they can publish about the government or famous people.

This Amendment is also so important to journalists because they can serve as watch dogs to the government. When the government becomes corrupt, the media can find out and publish information about it. This is the same for big business, when these businesses get corrupt, the media will try to uncover this. The people that do uncover these sorts of scandals, rather than being punished, are rewarded for their intelligence and ability to uncover a mystery. The reason they are able to be praised, is all thanks to the first amendment.

This is a link on a talk show where the interviewer asks when should the first amendment “lose”: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RxHExkcWKFo