What is the significance of the First Amendment with speech and press?

With the sense of distrust in government in mind, the creators of the Constitution announced that the First Amendment would give freedoms to its people. This amendment prohibits congress from interfering with freedoms of expression. The First Amendment has become a great resource for mass media. Mass media acts like a watchdog over government with the help of the First Amendment. The amendment allows the media to channel the information to the public without being penalized. The amendment gives the mass media a voice— a way to speak out about different issues. Although there are some restrictions to the First amendment, these restrictions are for the safety of the people; like the Schenck v. United States case.

Without the First Amendment, the government would control the media. The government would choose what information is displayed to the public and shield content from the public. By eliminating the First Amendment, people would not be able to express themselves freely. This is not what our founding fathers wanted. The First Amendment gives people the right to speak and write their honest opinions.