1733, Royal edicts

20 October

Edict (to the Chief of Police in Copenhagen) that nothing concerning the state and government, public measures, writings concerning physical confrontation, especially when a person

has been assaulted, town rumours and other indecent stories may be printed in the weekly papers.

The King has noted with great consternation that, despite repeated reprimands and prohibitions to the contrary, such revelations and news often appear in the reports of the Chamber of Deputies, in newspapers and other periodicals. Not only are they inappropriate for such publications, but they also reveal the bad intentions of the author and his lack of knowledge and insight into the matters dealt with. In order to prevent this, it is hereby ordered:

The Chief of Police shall, with the utmost seriousness, announce and make clear to the Adressecontoir of Notices and Newspapers (Adresse-Contoirets Efterretninger og Aviserne), as well as to other weeklies in Copenhagen, that they must absolutely not contain anything that is not in accordance with the associated privileges. Specifically, they must not contain anything dealing about the state and government, public measures, or writings about physical confrontations, especially when a person has been assaulted. Furthermore, they must not include town rumours or other invented stories that contain offensive and distasteful material, etc. In the case of gross negligence, the offender will be held solely responsible and the Chief of Police will immediately impose a fine of between 50 and 200 riksdaler, depending on the nature of the offence. This fine must be paid immediately, without appeal, and if payment is not made, the person will be punished according to the decree of December 1743.