Can democracy be established and function without assurances of freedom of speech and freedom of press?

Answer 1

How can one answer a what if question? I know of no examples of democracy, as most define it, without some "freedom" of the press and speech. Now of course, the terms democracy and freedom are subject to a wide variation of intrepretations. China today claims it is a democracy and has freedom of speech and press. Of course, there are certain limits in the interest of "public safety", as the authorities define that.