A Right to a Free Press? [Audio]

Speaker(s): Dr Chandrika Kaul, Professor Sue Mendus, Peter Oborne | A free press is a fundamental pillar of a healthy democracy. It is a vehicle for free expression, informs public debate, and holds government to account. Is there a right to a free press and is this distinct from the freedom of speech of citizens in a democracy? Given the press is often accused of overstepping the mark, invading people’s privacy or publishing material that is harmful to the national interest, where might the limits of press freedom lie? We explore the nature, importance, limitations, and challenges of maintaining a free press in our digital age. Chandrika Kaul is Reader in Modern History, University of St Andrews. Sue Mendus is Morrell Professor Emerita in Political Philosophy, University of York. Peter Oborne (@OborneTweets) is a journalist, author, and commentator. Sarah Fine is Fellow, Forum for Philosophy and Senior Lecturer in Philosophy, KCL. Founded in 1996, the Forum for Philosophy (@forumphilosophy) is a non-profit organization that has gained widespread recognition for its work as initiator and sponsor of engaging and thoughtful events that facilitate wider participation in academic philosophy. Twitter Hashtag for this event: #LSEForum