"In the First Amendment the Founding Fathers gave the free press the protection it must have to fulfill its essential role in our democracy. The press was to serve the governed, not the governors.

Question

The Government's power to censor the press was abolished so that the press would remain forever free to censure the Government. The press was protected so that it could bare the secrets of government and inform the people. Only a free and unrestrained press can effectively expose deception in government. And paramount among the responsibilities of a free press is the duty to prevent any part of the government from deceiving the people and sending them off to distant lands to die of foreign fevers and foreign shot and shell. In my view, far from deserving condemnation for their courageous reporting, the New York Times, the Washington Post, and other newspapers should be commended for serving the purpose that the Founding Fathers saw so clearly. In revealing the workings of government that led to the Vietnam war, the newspapers nobly did precisely that which the Founders hoped and trusted they would do...."
—Justice Hugo Black
from New York Times Co. v. United States
Why does the Justice feel that the First Amendment's protection of freedom of the press is especially important in this case?
The newspapers in the case are trying to provide information about a war.
The press can only report on specific things
The first amendment does not protect free speech
A,B or C?

Answer 1

The correct answer is A: The newspapers in the case are trying to provide information about a war.

Justice Hugo Black emphasizes the importance of a free press in informing the public about government actions, especially in the context of significant issues like war. He argues that the press plays a crucial role in holding the government accountable and ensuring that the people are informed about decisions that can have serious consequences, such as involvement in foreign conflicts.