Problem 1: Does the First Amendment's guarantee of freedom of the press mean the media should behave responsibly? The media have become increasingly powerful as a force in American politics. Is there a corresponding need for new checks on the power of the media? If so, what might these be?
Problem 2: Describe the media's traditional watchdog or monitoring role of the government. Why did the Framers think this role is important for democracy? Do Americans continue to value the watchdog role of the media?