The Freedom of the Press - Essay Example

The First and Second Amendments to the Constitution are critically important components of the scheme to protect minority rights in America. The First Amendment to the. It is no accident that these three basic freedoms are outlined within the first of ten Amendments. It is likely that the Framers of the Constitution considered these to be the most important of all the rights that need to be protected from the will of the majority, in order to establish a truly open and free democratic republic.

Among the many current issues that have arisen out of the First Amendment is the question of the extent to which the press has the right to protect its sources. The jailing us New York Times reporter Judith Miller for failing to reveal her source in the matter of the leak of the identity of CIA operative Valerie Plame raises the specter of the government's ability to chill press freedom to investigate and report on sensitive government matters. Ultimately, it was found that the interest of the state in prosecuting criminals and providing for national security trumps the right of reporters to refuse to disclose their sources.

The implications of this finding are grave, and it remains to be seen whether investigative reporting in America will be severely weakened in the future as potential sources of information refuse to come forward for fear that the government might force disclosure of their identities. That result could end up depriving the public of important information they need to develop informed opinions about public matters. Another First Amendment issue that continues to be relevant is the doctrine of Separation of Church and State.