I am going to take a break from the behind-the-scenes newspaper talk this week because this weekend is the Fourth of July and this year marks 250 years since the signing of the Declaration of Independence. That is worth pausing for, especially for those of us who get to work in a business protected by the First Amendment.

There are a lot of things to love about this country and one of them is that the government does not get to decide what people are allowed to say, believe or publish. A free press is one of America’s great promises. It means people have a way to know what is being done in their name, with their money and in their communities.

Locally, that freedom is not some abstract idea. It means city councils, school boards, county budgets, elections, public notices, police reports, water issues and development plans do not just happen quietly in the background. It means someone can show up, ask questions, write it down and put it in front of the public.

That freedom also must be defended. A free press can be frustrating, imperfect and inconvenient but it is supposed to be those things. When public officials, powerful people or anyone else tries to weaken the press, intimidate reporters or make public information harder to reach, we should recognize that for what it is. Attacks on the press are attacks on the public’s right to know.

A free press is not perfect because people are not perfect. But the idea behind it is still one of the best things about America: that information matters, people deserve access to it and power should be questioned.

So this Fourth of July, I hope everyone takes a moment to enjoy the holiday and appreciate the freedoms that make it possible. Have a happy Fourth and please stay safe this weekend.