A contrarian I know argues that this freedom institutes mealy-minded thinking and thoughtless cheerleading in the public even more than in regimes backed by censorship and oppression. Free speech often instills the false belief that that freedom is a sufficient check on lies and falsehoods. Just look at all the drek in the mouths of putatively-liberated college students, not to mention all the internet blabbermouths like me!
Even in regimes of soft authoritarianism, there is already a presumption of falsehood towards any successful member of the press. Here, every large party faction has its own cheerleading group and well-paid pundit, but in the interests of party unity the cheerleading is assimilated into the party machine.
I hope I don't sound like somebody afflicted by oppression envy, but I think it important to keep in mind that freedom can also be a danger to itself.
But speaking of faction, have you read Madison's Federalist 10? It occurs to me that one can describe party politics and the media industry as one faction according to the definition of Madison. Both aim at appealing to the largest number of people possible, and so have an interest in common to themselves but not necessarily common to their citizens, customers, and their country.
Will you still be talking about our great freedoms while wating in line for our National "Real ID" internal passports/permission slips for banking?