“It is impossible to make sense of the special privileges allocated to the press in our society . . . except on the assumption that the press is supposed to serve some important public good.” —Judith Lichtenberg, philosophy professor and media critic

The media industry has unique qualities that distinguish it from other industries. One is its privileged legal position under the First Amendment guarantee of freedom of the press, making the media exempt from government restraints and oversight as compared with other businesses. “Why is the press exempt from restraints and restrictions that fall on others"” asks philosophy professor and media critic Judith Lichtenberg. She answers: “Because we believe that the information journalists provide contributes to the search for truth, to democratic citizenship, and to the solution of social problems.” The industry’s unique legal position carries with it the special responsibility...