The First Amendment Is a Journalist’s BFFL

The First Amendment is if not the most important, then one of the most important amendments to the United States Constitution’s Bill of Rights. The amendment allows freedoms of speech, religion, press, assembly, and petition.

For journalists this amendment saves their career and provides them with a sense of security. They have the freedom to say what they want when they want, assemble in areas in order to get information, and to release the information to the press.

Without these rights, journalists would not be able to get the stories and facts they need to write their articles, news stories, or radio shows.

Some rights that journalists have that average citizens do not are the privileges to better access to public events, crime scenes, and press conferences. They are also allowed extended interview time with public authorities, celebrities, or others in the public eye if needed.

Journalists are allowed these rights or privileges because the power the press has to turn the publics’ opinion for or against the government, policies or officials, and the press often represents their consumers.