<P> Freedom of the press in the United States is legally protected by the First Amendment to the United States Constitution . This amendment is generally understood to prevent the government from interfering with the distribution of information and opinions . </P> <P> Nevertheless, freedom of the press In the United States is subject to certain restrictions, such as defamation law, a lack of protection for whistleblowers, barriers to information access and constraints caused by public hostility to journalists . </P>

Which event set a precedent for the rights of free speech and freedom of the press in the colonies