re: #522 Obdicut

That correlation/causative relationship between a free press and a free society was understood by our Founding Fathers to the extent that they enshrined that in the First Amendment. Other countries have gone and included freedom of the press in their own constitutions but pay it only lip service.

However, the way we think about the press has changed in recent years thanks to the Internet. The “press” should be expanded to include free flow of information (such as Internet accessibility) since anyone can be a journalist to report on events (and can post videos and other information on twitter and blogs etc). Regimes under siege from protesters demanding reform and change are doing all they can to limit access to information. Iran has repeatedly sought to shut down Internet access during the protests there last year. China has instituted various blocks to prevent certain kinds of searches that might reveal information that the government doesn’t want people to see, and other regimes block the Internet or other telecommunications access altogether (think North Korea).