united-states us-constitution
Freedom of speech vs freedom of the press
<p>Are there any substantial legal distinctions between the First Amendment's right of freedom of speech compared to freedom of the press?</p>

<p>I'm specifically looking for any distinctions officially drawn by any of the three branches of U.S. government.</p>

<p>To clarify further, I understand speech and press to be modes of expression.  Freedom of speech has limits of reason, as in yelling fire in a crowded theater.   What I'm wondering about is if there are concrete, factual examples where the limits on expression have been explicitly distinguished based on mode of expression. </p>

<p>No official distinction appears to exist within the US government, indeed it is not clear what the difference would refer to. A special press privilege was claimed in <a href="https://supreme.justia.com/cases/federal/us/408/665/" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Branzburg v. Hayes</a>, 408 U.S. 665 but rejected by the courts, the privilege to refuse to respond to grand jury subpoena. States may have specific "shield laws", such as <a href="https://apps.leg.wa.gov/RCW/default.aspx?cite=5.68.010" rel="nofollow noreferrer">this Washington law</a> which immunizes "the news media" against subpoenas and other compulsory processes, but would not apply to me as an individual.</p>

<p>I found an example seems to fit what I'm looking for, <a href="https://supreme.justia.com/cases/federal/us/438/726/" rel="nofollow noreferrer">FCC v. Pacifica Foundation</a>, 438 U.S. 726 (1978).  I'm just starting to read it, but thought it might serve as an example to prompt other, more informed, responses.</p>
