The Press

American democracy is built on its institutions. The Congress, the presidency, and the judiciary, in particular, undergird the rights and responsibilities of every citizen. The free press, for example, protected by the First Amendment, allows for the dissent so necessary in a democracy. Howhas this institution changed since the nation's founding? And what can we, as leaders, policymakers, and citizens, do to keep it vital? The freedom of the press is an essential element of American democracy. With the guidance of editors Geneva Overholser and Kathleen Hall Jamieson, this volume examines the role of the press in a democracy, investigating alternative models used throughout world history to better understand how theAmerican press has evolved into what it is today. The commission also examines ways to allow more voices to be heard and to improve the institution of the American free press. The Press, a collection of essays by the nation's leading journalism scholars and professionals, will examine the history, identity, roles, and future of the American press, with an emphasis on topics of concern to both practitioners and consumers of American media.

Geneva Overholser is the Curtis B. Hurley Chair in Public Affairs Reporting, Missouri School of Journalism Washington Bureau. Kathleen Hall Jamieson, Ph.D., is the Elizabeth Ware Packard Professor of Communication, Annenberg School for Communication at the University of Pennsylvania; Director, Annenberg Public Policy Center. Series edited by Jaroslav Pelikan, Yale University and University of Pennsylvania.