Question

Newspaperman John Peter Zenger printed several issues targeting the governor of New York for corruption. He was found not guilty as his accusations were found to be true. What was the outcome of the trial?

1) Zenger was found guilty and sentenced to prison
2) Zenger was found not guilty and acquitted
3) Zenger was fined for defamation
4) Zenger was banned from publishing

Answer 1

John Peter Zenger was acquitted in a 1735 trial, affirming the significance of free press in the colonies and setting a historic precedent for freedom of the press as exemplified by the First Amendment.

Step-by-step explanation:

The outcome of the trial involving Newspaperman John Peter Zenger, who printed issues targeting the governor of New York for corruption, was that Zenger was found not guilty and acquitted. His lawyers were able to successfully defend him by arguing that a statement is not libelous if it can be proved true. This trial, held in 1735, was significant because it affirmed the importance of a free press in the colonies. The trial set a precedent for freedom of the press, which would go on to be a key element of the First Amendment. This precedent was also referenced in later cases such as New York Times Co. v. Sullivan, which further established the rights of the press against charges of defamation when reporting on public figures.