The First Amendment protects the photojounalist

  

    
   The First Amendment:

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances.                               

   The First Amendment means that we are not subject to censorship by the government. 

   In other words, the government does not have the right to try to control or block certain things from being published by the press. The press provide citizens of the United Sates with a variety of information and opinions on matters of public importance.

   I have learned that prior restraint means an attempt by the government to prevent the expression of ideas before they are published. Under the First Amendment, prior restraint is clearly unconstitutional, even though at times this happens. For example, a newspaper that publishes false information about a person can be sued for libel. Most journalists strive to exercise their freedom to publish in a responsible and ethical manner. 

   The case of Mandi Wright, a Detroit Press photographer, challenged these rights.  She was teaching a colleague about cell phone videos.  A man was being arrested.  An undercover policeman in street clothes started to yell at her and told her to stop videotaping.  At the time, she did not know he was an undercover policeman and did not stop filming.  Wright was arrested.  After many hours she was able to leave the jail feeling like she was stripped of her freedoms.  

  The press will keep fighting for the First Amendment freedoms that allow it to inform our citizens.