1450
Johannes Gutenberg's printing press democratizes knowledge
1644
John Milton publishes 'Areopagitica,' foundational free speech text
1690
Publick Occurrences, first American newspaper (suppressed after one issue)
1735
John Peter Zenger acquitted, establishing truth as libel defense
1766
Sweden passes world's first freedom of the press law
1791
First Amendment protects American press freedom
1851
Reuters founded, pioneers international news wire service
1863
Associated Press established during Civil War
1889
Nellie Bly's undercover asylum exposé advances investigative journalism
1906
Upton Sinclair's 'The Jungle' shows journalism's reform power
1931
Near v. Minnesota establishes prior restraint limits
1964
New York Times v. Sullivan protects press criticism of officials
1971
Pentagon Papers published, affirming press freedom
1972
Watergate reporting leads to presidential resignation
1990
Tim Berners-Lee creates World Wide Web, new era of publishing
1991
First website goes live at CERN
1993
UNESCO establishes World Press Freedom Day, May 3rd
2003
UNESCO begins annual World Press Freedom Prize
2006
WikiLeaks founded, changing document journalism
2011
Arab Spring demonstrates social media's reporting power