June 20, Jared Schroeder, associate professor of Journalism specializing in Free Press/Free Speech at SMU Dallas, for a piece analyzing the free press implications of the Pentagon Papers as we recall the 50th Anniversary of the event. Published in History News Network with the headline “50 Years Later, the Pentagon Papers Remain an Historic Landmark for Freedom of the Press”: https://bit.ly/35J3j6W
Democracy has seemed paper thin lately.
Politicians and pundits increasingly forget, ignore and distort First Amendment principles in hopes of scoring points with constituents.
This week, we celebrate the 50th anniversary of a key part of freedom of the press which, like our democratic principles, survives as a hardened protection for publishers and remains unmoved by the unrelenting attacks our First Amendment freedoms face.
On June 30, 1971, the Supreme Court announced its decision in New York Times v. United States, also called the Pentagon Papers case. In its terse, one-page opinion, the Court concluded the government cannot censor or restrain the press. The First Amendment does not allow it.