In class, we've discussed the landmark court cases over the history of the United States that have sought to protect and maintain our First Amendment rights, specifically many of the Sedition Acts that limited the press. I live in a day and age when people tweet their utter distaste of the entire system, the term "Fake News" exists-- the First Amendment is utilized to its fullest extent by both the public and the news networks.
According to a Providence news outlet, Rhode Island Senate was attempting to pass a bill that punished news outlets for publishing or ignoring certain stories: branded as "Selective Reporting." The goal of the bill was actually to promote a fair and equal presentation of issues from the press, but First Amendment advocacy groups spoke out in protest when the bill was announced.
The protests make sense: the government has to be kept out of the newsroom at all costs; let them in once, and we set a precedent that sanctions can be put on the press. Ultimately, the First Amendment won out and the bill was withdrawn to be rewritten and presented again alongside another bill.
Apparently, the goal of the bill was to support those who are accused of a crime, especially those that are heavily reported, if they are afterward declared innocent. Frequently, people accused of crimes and then villanized by the press are never reported on afterward if their innocence is found. This bill was hoping to do so-- the senator who had been pushing it through apologized for the language that affected the First Amendment but vowed that she would continue to seek justice for those affected by the media in this way.
For more information on the bill, check out this article:
https://turnto10.com/news/local/selective-reporting-bill-pulled-after-first-amendment-advocates-speak-out
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