For over 200 years, freedom of the press has been a fundamental ideal of the United States. Allowing people to publish news, ideas, and opinions without censure or interference—even if what they’re reporting is contentious—was so important to the founders of this nation that they placed a guarantee in the First Amendment to the Constitution.

Citing many examples from America’s history, from the American Revolution to the Civil War and from Vietnam to the presidencies of Barack Obama and Donald Trump, acclaimed author Linda Barrett Osborne shows how a free press has played an essential role in the growth of this nation and allowed democracy to flourish. With today’s new technologies affecting how media is delivered, sometimes fierce public debate surrounding what constitutes free speech, and more division in our news and politics than ever before, Guardians of Liberty reminds readers that everyone has a right to convey the news and express opinions, no matter how strongly we may disagree with one another.

“In her enthralling, sometimes shocking history of ‘freedom of the press and the nature of news,’ Osborne presents a masterly balance of anecdote and analysis. Deeply researched and beautifully written, Guardians of Liberty enlightens and entertains readers of any age. Above all, Osborne reminds us that without an independent press, we would have no reliable news, only partisan propaganda.”—Michael Dirda, Pulitzer Prize–winning critic for the Washington Post