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Criminal Justice Opinion Portfolio

Does the Press have too much or too little freedom?
First we must look at the definition of press which means, to act upon with steadily applied weight or force, but the actual definition that we are referring to is, all the media and agencies that print, broadcast, or gather and transmit news, including newspapers, newsmagazines, radio and television news bureaus, and wire services. (http://dictionary.reference.com/)
What rights does the press have? Well, just look at the First Amendment of the Constitution, as it plainly states “Freedom of the press (or press freedom) is the guarantee by a government of free public press for its citizens and their associations, extended to members of news gathering organizations, and their published reporting. It also extends to news gathering, and processes involved in obtaining information for public distribution. Not all countries are protected by a bill of rights or the constitutional provision pertaining to Freedom of the Press.” Then we look at the definition of freedom which means, the state of being free or at liberty rather than in confinement or under physical restraint. (http://dictionary.reference.com/)
So therefore, with that being said, the author does believe that the press has too much freedom; the freedom of the press is a privilege not a right. So then it can be taken away, if a reporter is found guilty of submitting false information or articles. The author thinks the press has too much freedom because they can somewhat cover any issue or event that happens, no matter what the personal or privacy level is. As well as in most cases the press does not have to give up how they received their information either.

As stated in week ones assignment the press can also be held in contempt, of court, for example if they go to far with information that they gather. Contempt of court means that the individual is willful disobedience to or open disrespect for the rules or orders of a court, which somewhat means an...