What is the chilling effect?

• A. A Sudden Chill in Weather
• B. A Type of Music
• C. Censorship of Commentary
• D. A Legal Term for Contracts

Answer: (C)

The chilling effect is about self-censorship triggered by fear of legal or official repercussions for speaking out. In media practice, this means journalists, editors, or commentators might hold back critical coverage or commentary because they worry about lawsuits, investigations, or other sanctions. That fear dampens public discourse even when the speech would be lawful to share, which is why it’s described as a form of censorship of commentary. The other options miss the speech-focused idea: weather is unrelated, a type of music doesn’t capture the suppression aspect, and a legal term for contracts addresses a different area of law.