liberty of the press

noun

1. freedom of the press.

Word History and Origins

Origin of liberty of the press¹

First recorded in 1760–70

Example Sentences

The liberty of the press is essential to the security of the state.

From Seattle Times

Again from the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation: “When John Adams wrote ‘A Constitution or Form of Government for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts’ in 1779, he included a guarantee of liberty of the press.

From Washington Times

“It’s an abuse of power, which violates the liberty of the press.”

From Washington Post

“It’s a French particularity. But to say it’s a threat to the liberty of the press? . . . It has no impact whatsoever on the right to inform.”

From Washington Post

Central to this discussion are federal cases concerning journalists’ privilege under state law as well as the Supreme Court’s clear statement that “liberty of the press is the right of the lonely pamphleteer who uses carbon paper or a mimeograph just as much as of the large metropolitan publisher who utilizes the latest photocomposition methods” from Branzburg v.

From Slate