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Show t (&i&m!j . -: - ' The old English laws of libel sought to punish a newspaper for publishing any type of injurious stories about someone. Penalties were heavy fines or imprisonment, imprison-ment, and sometimes shut down of a newspaper. But Alexander Hamilton changed the entire meaning of libel in a historic address ad-dress to a jury in 1804. His argument established a basic principle of freedom of the press, and opened the way for newspapers to print stories ot unlawful conduct of government figures w ithout fear of prosecution. Hamilton said: "The liberty of the press consists of the right to publish with impunity truth with good motives for justifiable ends though reflecting on government, magistracy, or individuals." in-dividuals." Because of this principle, you can know the true story of your government, govern-ment, whether its actions are positive or negative. |