Americans value press freedom, but new surveys show support for restrictions in certain cases

NEW YORK (AP) — Americans value press freedom — with some exceptions. adults said press freedom is “extremely” or “very” important to society’s well-being, according to a newly released Pew Research Center study. But at least half said they also support government restrictions on reporting in specific circumstances, such as protecting national security or preventing inaccurate information.

At the same time, many Americans said it is “never acceptable” for the U.S. government to give journalists access to public figures in exchange for positive coverage, or to revoke a news organization’s broadcast license. “People are not all or nothing,” says Katerina Eva Matsa, director of news and information at Pew Research Center, when asked what was striking about the findings.

“When you give them options and scenarios … they are negotiating. That was a very interesting perspective that the data gave us.” The study, which was based on two surveys conducted earlier this year, also found that Americans were divided about whether the media is completely free to report the news, with Democrats and Republicans expressing very different levels of worry about restrictions on the press. The polling comes at a bumpy time for media in the US The analysis comes as the relationship between the U.S.

media and Donald Trump’s second administration becomes ever more fraught as the president, in his second term, seeks to restrict press coverage not to his liking. He or his administration has attacked, sued or taken administrative action against media outlets that have drawn his ire. Matsa said that tension was one impetus for doing the report now.

Other reasons: the changing media environment and the evolution of what “the press” is now, as well as the emergence of tech companies as gatekeepers of the news. “Overall, there’s a lot of public conversation — and it’s the 250th anniversary of our nation,” she said. “So, it kind of felt like a good moment to look at how Americans think about this.” Most Americans, about 7 in 10, said the Trump administration and the U.S.

news media have a “very” or “somewhat” bad relationship. That’s a slight increase from 2025, when 64% of U.S. They’re more divided on whether the press faces additional restrictions under Trump’s second term, although few think the press is freer than it was before.