1st Amendment Rights

The First Amendment to the Constitution of the USA. What exactly is it and why is it important?

I went to Wikipedia.com and the definition of the First Amendment states:

"The First Amendment to the United States Constitution is the part of the United States Bill of Rights that expressly prohibits the United States Congress from making laws "respecting an establishment of religion" or that prohibit the free exercise of religion, laws that infringe the freedom of speech, infringe the freedom of the press, limit the right to peaceably assemble, or limit the right to petition the government for a redress of grievances."

So, basically, the first amendment is the freedom of religion, speech, peaceful assembly and so on. However, there are certain restrictions on this Amendment, usually different state by state, according to the views of a judge and a jury. So how, exactly, does one know where to draw the line, in certain aspects such as producing media? That's a tough question to answer.

The rights of Americans only go so far. This amendment is important to media, especially people pursuing the career because they need to know what restrictions they are limited to.

For example, libel and slander are totally out of the picture. Media cannot make someone look bad without good evidence that they are doing something wrong, such as spousal abuse. And then, the question of what intentions the producer of the work has by displaying the slander. Do they want to make the person look bad because they secretly hate the person? Or do they just want justice? This is determined by a judge and jury.

Obscenity is another issue. What is obscene? Once again, that is to be translated by wherever you're at. For example, in Kansas, things are a bigger deal that for example, in San Francisco, CA. Places like California are able to have more liberal views and media, just because of the views of the citizens there.

One last point I will bring up is the freedom to petition, assemble, and protest non-violently. I was driving down Ohio one day and a man had a big sign showing a mutilated baby that went through abortion. It wasn't violent, but it was pretty graphic and I'm surprised he didn't get in trouble for it. His views are important and should be expressed, but I thought it was pretty obscene. But then again, it all depends on where you're at.

So, there are many different exceptions and rules to the First Amendment, but it's important to media because we need to know where we stand on making videos so we don't violate those rules or step on or humiliate other certain groups and possibly get sued.