Chapter 7
1. What impact do you think the context in which the American press operated under British rule had on
2. Think about criticisms leveled against President Barack Obama (or earlier, against President George
W. Bush) on social networks, blogs, talk shows and other platforms. Think of the worst of these that you
can recall. Now, view those through the context of U.S. First Amendment policy and law toward starting
3. About half of those responding to a First Amendment Center/American Journalism Review survey said
the First Amendment goes too far in the rights it guarantees. Do you agree? Why do you think so many
4. State shield laws protect journalists. What issues arise in defining who is entitled to this protection? If
you have a blog, are you a journalist? What if you routinely share information of public interest through
5. We read regularly reports of celebrities and politicians engaged in extra-marital affairs. The lines
between publications like The National Enquirer and The Washington Post began to change in the 1980s
and 1990s on reporting these types of stories. Think of this news in relation to the definition of