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Freedom of the press: New York Weekly Journal writer John Peter Zenger is acquitted of seditious libel against the royal governor of New York, on the basis that what he had published was true.
Related Wikipedia articles
Freedom of the press
Freedom of communication and expression through various media
Freedom of the press or freedom of the media is the fundamental principle that communication and expression through various media, including printed and electronic media, especially published materials, should be considered a right to be exercised freely. Such freedom implies no…Source: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA)
John Peter Zenger
Printer, journalist and defender of freedom of the press in early America (1697–1746)
John Peter Zenger (October 26, 1697 – July 28, 1746) was a German printer and journalist in New York City. Zenger printed The New York Weekly Journal. He was accused of libel in 1734 by William Cosby, the royal governor of New York, but the jury acquitted Zenger, who became a…Source: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA)
Seditious libel
Criminal offences under English common law
Seditious libel is a criminal offence under common law of printing written material with seditious purpose – that is, the purpose of bringing contempt upon a political authority. It remains an offence in Canada but has been abolished in England and Wales.Source: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA)