Hutchins Commission American commission Also known as: Commission on Freedom of the Press Written by Bill W. Hornaday Contributor to SAGE Publications's The SAGE International Encyclopedia of Mass Media and Society (2020) whose work appears in Britannica as part of a joint publishing agreement with SAGE. Bill W. Hornaday Fact-checked by Britannica Editors Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree.... Britannica Editors Last updated May 18, 2026 •History The Commission on Freedom of the Press, better known as the Hutchins Commission, was established in 1943 to examine whether freedom of the press in the United States was endangered and to assess the responsibilities of mass media in a democracy. After extensive deliberation, the commission concluded in 1947 that press freedom was in danger and offered a series of recommendations for government, media owners, practitioners, and the public so that a free press could...

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