Pentagon Papers Case Study

You will be given readings about the Pentagon Papers case. We will also cover the case in class. Your assignment is to read the documents and prepare answers to the following questions.

1. Summarize the press freedom issues found within the readings.

2. Discuss whether or not there are instances when the use of prior restraint is justified. In your view, was prior restraint justified here? Why or why not?

3. Evaluate the impact of this case on press freedomns, particularly in the post-9/11 era.

4. What lessons from this case, if any, have been lost? What explanation(s) can you suggest?

5. Evaluate if the coverage of this story, as described by the readings, is an illustration of good journalism or bad journalism (as defined by Downie & Kaiser).

6. What news values were embodied by the coverage of this case?