The Meaning Of Freedom Of The Press

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THE MEANING OF FREEDOM OF THE PRESS András Koltay Adjunct professor of Pázmány Péter Catholic University Budapest Discussion of the Fundamental Questions The first advocates of freedom of speech, because of the nature of the social order at the time when the need for freedom was first articulated, primarily preached the need for independence from the State. The struggle for freedom of the press and speech is a constant “concomitant phenomenon” of the drastic societal changes that can be viewed as prerequisites for today’s democratic order. The publicity created by the press, although, sometimes revolutionarily rapid and therefore short-lived, sometimes slower, therefore more lasting, is the engine of these changes. However, the need for free speech and press never crystallized into a thesis as objectives themselves: they were instruments necessary to reform society, realize a more just political system, and later, to involve the majority of the public in democratic decision-making. However, in freedom of speech, individual liberty receives a great emphasis, too. Each person is entitled to the right to fulfill his individuality not only against the State but also against the community. Sometimes there is tension between the individualistic and community-based theories of freedom and, in practice, there is a need for striking a balance between individual rights and community interest. After the two genocidal dictatorships of the 20th century and as a result of them, the process, during which original, society-level objectives are sidelined and replaced by the recognition of individual right above all, gained new momentum. According to certain views, the danger of the breach of these rights can only be expected by the State. However, other positions argue the necessity of the restriction of private sphere, which uses its “private censorship” more
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