Without freedom of the press, there can be no representative government.
Sentiment: NEGATIVE
A free press is the cornerstone of democracy; there is no question about that.
The freedom of the press works in such a way that there is not much freedom from it.
A free press can, of course, be good or bad, but, most certainly without freedom, the press will never be anything but bad.
You can't have a free democracy if you don't have a free media that can provide vital and independent information to the people.
In a democracy, you need to have a strong judicial system. You need freedom of speech, you need art, and you need a free press.
Freedom of the press is guaranteed only to those who own one.
As a conservative who believes in limited government, I believe that the only check on government power in real time is a free and independent press.
Were it left to me to decide whether we should have a government without newspapers, or newspapers without a government, I should not hesitate a moment to prefer the latter.
I tell you, in my opinion, the cornerstone of democracy is free press - that's the cornerstone.
No government ought to be without censors; and where the press is free no one ever will.