Freedom of the Press with Gene Policinski, former COO of Newseum, founding Editor of USA Today
It is no accident that James Madison’s initial wording of the First Amendment specified that the right to a free press “shall be inviolable” because it is “one of the great bulwarks of liberty.”
Indeed, the press has been called the “Fourth Estate,” or the fourth branch of government, providing a different kind of check on the legislative, executive, and judicial branches.
Gene Policinski, former COO of the Newseum, founding Editor of USA Today, and Board Secretary of the First Amendment Museum led this presentation and interactive discussion.
This Zoom / Facebook Live was recorded on October 5, 2021, with Montpelier. Q&A with Participants included at the end.
Gene Policinski is the former COO of the Newseum, founding Editor of USA Today, and Board Secretary of the First Amendment Museum.
Learn more about Gene Policinski.
The First Amendment provides many of the rights Americans hold most dear: freedom of religion, speech, the press, petition, and assembly. These freedoms form the basis of political and civic participation in American society.
The Five Freedoms Series will help Americans better understand the freedoms guaranteed to them under the First Amendment, and encourage them to exercise these rights. Each week will focus on a different element of The 1st Amendment: speech, religion, press, assembly, and the right to petition the government. Because many of these freedoms are frequently at the heart of Supreme Court cases, the sixth week will allow us to bring together a panel of federal judges to discuss cases on the docket in the 2021-2022 Supreme Court Term.
This series is proudly hosted by the First Amendment Museum, James Madison’s Montpelier, and The Center for Civic Education.