AJRL 100
SPRING 2020
TEST #2
1. Mark Zuckerberg’s position on censoring social media is essentially the same as John Milton’s argument in Areopagitica. Summarize Milton’s position on censorship (see Standage Chapter 5). Quote from his argument. Compare this position to the views expressed by Zuckerberg: https://www.nytimes.com/2019/10/17/business/zuckerberg-facebook-free-speech.html
2 (See Standage Chapter 6.)
Although some were not welcome towards its because they felt it was a distraction towards other productive pursuits, others believed that it offered “the sanctuary of health, the nursery of temperance, the delight of frugality, an academy of civility, and a free-school of ingenuity.”
3. Why was printing banned in Virginia until the 1730s? (See Standage Chapter 7.)
Due to the disliking of certain printings caused licenses to be issued to print. “By 1730 all attempts to enforce licensing had been abandoned, and the orders granted to colonial governors no longer made any mention of it”. Printing caused the
4. Describe the John Peter Zenger case and explain its importance for journalists defending themselves against libel. (See Standage Chapter 7.)
The John Peter Zenger case began with Zenger publishing a series regarding the corruption of Governor William Cosby. He was put away in jail for months and put on trial for libel for unrevealing the name of those responsible for the offending letters published by Zenger against Cosby. His attorney then held the argument that the law itself was flawed and to look into the accusations and if they were true Zenger not be guilty. The success of this case eradicated control of the press giving the freedom desired.
5. Describe how Tom Paine went “viral.” What statistics and evidence measure this virality? (See Standage Chapter 7. See also the discussion of Paine in “Typographic America.”)
