Freedom of the press or freedom of the media is the principle
that communication and expression through various media,
including printed and electronic media, especially published materials,
should be considered a right to be exercised freely.
Such freedom implies the absence of interference from an overreaching state;
its preservation may be sought through constitutional or other legal protections.
With respect to governmental information, any government may distinguish
which materials are public or protected from disclosure to the public.
State materials are protected due to either of two reasons:
the classification of information as sensitive, classified or secret,
or the relevance of the information to protecting the national interest.
Many governments are also subject to sunshine laws or freedom of information legislation
that are used to define the ambit of national interest.
The United Nations' 1948 Universal Declaration of Human Rights states:
"Everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression;
this right includes freedom to hold opinions without interference, and to seek, receive,
and impart information and ideas through any media regardless of frontiers".
This philosophy is usually accompanied by legislation
ensuring various degrees of freedom of scientific research (known as scientific freedom),
publishing, and press. The depth to which these laws are entrenched
in a country's legal system can go as far down as its constitution.
The concept of freedom of speech is often covered by the same laws as freedom of the press,
thereby giving equal treatment to spoken and published expression.
Sweden was the first country in the world to adopt freedom of the press
into its constitution with the Freedom of the Press Act of 1766.