The assignment is meant to be an interpretation of how the First Amendment allows for freedom of speech and press, specifically in the United States because that's what this course teaches. However, you included several international examples. While interesting, it might be better if you compare the First Amendment and how it applies to U.S. citizens and/or journalists, and if there is or isn't something comparable in another country. (I'd suggest only focusing on ONE other country because it would be too complicated to do more than that in this particular paper.) 2.You will need to include footnotes or endnotes to anything that is not common knowledge. You started to do that by the sources in parentheses, but the assignment is to use footnotes or endnotes. 3.Also, instead of citing to only books and articles, part of the assignment is when you learn about a specific case, law, etc., you should try to find that case or law and mention that specific legal opinion or statute instead of just someone else's interpretation. Also, because you refer to the First Amendment, that should be part of your footnotes/endnotes and bibliography.

The First Amendment provides for the protection of the freedom of speech, assembly and free press.[1] The First Amendment has been the benchmark upon which the US exceptionalism in matters expression, and exercise of democratic rights is based on. In this regard the United States has been a protector of the freedom of speech. In most occasions, the First Amendment is the only provision that has ensured that people who speak against government, or established opinions are protected. Sometimes the provision has been used by some people to generate hate speech and propagate controversial opinions. That notwithstanding there is more exercise of free speech in the United States than in the past centuries.

In the 21^st Century the freedom of expression has been on the rise due to the use of technology to disseminate information. Facebook and Twitter platforms have given people a wider platform to exercise freedom of speech.[2] In this regard, the citizens of the United States interact with each other daily, and often express their opinions without fear of victimization.

Journalists within the United States play a pivotal role in informing the people. In order to do this, journalists invoke the First Amendment which allows them to cover various issues. The independence of the press in informing, investigating and publishing news is a freedom that has been ensured in the US constitution. The first landmark case which set the press to give accounts of controversial and classified news is in 1971 when the Washington Post and New York Times were allowed by the Supreme Court to publish Pentagon Papers.[3] There has been a similar trend in the release of government conspiracies, and secret details which have often been used as a check of balances to the government. The cases of Wikileaks, and the Snowden Whistleblower case have often been protected by the freedom of expression.