"Without freedom of the press, there can be no representative government"

This quote by Charles Maurice de Talleyrand highlights the importance of liberty of the press in a representative government. He is suggesting that without freedom of journalism, a representative government can not exist. This is because freedom of the press permits the totally free flow of information and concepts, which is vital for a representative federal government to work effectively. Without flexibility of the press, citizens would not be able to access the info they require to make educated choices about their federal government. Additionally, without liberty of journalism, the government would be able to control the flow of info and control public opinion. For that reason, flexibility of the press is essential for a representative government to exist and operate appropriately.