The First Amendment to the United States Constitution provides that Congress shall make no law abridging (curtailing) the freedom of the press. Thus, freedom of the press prohibits censorship by the government in the reporting of news and the publication of opinions.
In California, as in all states, the First Amendment to the United States Constitution guarantees freedom of the press. This fundamental right prevents the government from imposing censorship on the media, ensuring that news reporting and the publication of opinions are not subject to government interference or control. California's state laws also support this constitutional protection, and the state's courts frequently reference the First Amendment when adjudicating cases related to press freedom. However, this freedom is not absolute; there are legal limitations such as defamation laws, privacy considerations, and national security concerns that can impose certain restrictions on the press. Nonetheless, these restrictions are carefully balanced to ensure they do not constitute undue censorship and that the core values of a free press are upheld.