Ken Paulson

Ken Paulson is president and chief executive officer/First Amendment Center. Previously, Paulson served as editor and senior vice president/news of USA Today and USATODAY.com. He is now a columnist on USA Today’s board of contributors, writing about First Amendment issues.

For the past 32 years, Paulson has drawn on his background as both a journalist and lawyer, serving as the editor or managing editor of newspapers in five different states and as the executive director of the First Amendment Center at Vanderbilt University.

He was on the team of journalists who founded USA Today in 1982 before moving on to manage newsrooms in Westchester County, N.Y., Green Bay, Wis., Bridgewater, N.J. and at Florida Today in Brevard County, Fla.

Paulson is also the founder of 1 for All, an unprecedented national campaign on behalf of the First Amendment, launched on July 1, 2010, with support from more than 1,100 news, arts and religious organizations.

Paulson also was the host of the Emmy-honored television program "Speaking Freely", seen in more than 60 PBS markets nationwide over five seasons, and the author of "Freedom Sings", a multimedia stage show celebrating the First Amendment that continues to tour the nation’s campuses.

He was an early advocate of making newspaper content available online, launching online newspapers in both Florida and New York in 1993.

For the past 12 years, Paulson has been a regular guest lecturer at the American Press Institute, speaking to more than 5,000 journalists about First Amendment issues. He recently was honored with the API Lifetime Service Award.

Paulson has also been elected as the president of the American Society of News Editors for 2011. In 2007, he was named fellow of the Society of Professional Journalists, "the highest honor SPJ bestows upon a journalist for extraordinary contributions to the profession."

He is a graduate of the University of Illinois College of Law and the University of Missouri School of Journalism. He also has served as an adjunct professor at Vanderbilt University Law School and is a member of both the Illinois and Florida bars.

Posts by Ken Paulson:

Speech Commentary, Supreme Court Case | Ken Paulson | January 20, 2012

Some expression now unfree after Court’s ruling

Copyright decision taking works out of public domain undermines free speech and doesn’t encourage creativity, which is the purpose of copyright protection.

Speech Commentary | Ken Paulson | January 17, 2012

Why Wikipedia’s blackout sends the wrong message

In making the case against SOPA and for the free flow of information, speaking out beats blacking out, which could cause a backlash.

Speech Commentary | Ken Paulson | January 13, 2012

Anti-piracy legislation must balance copyright, freedom

The heart of the debate over proposed SOPA and PIPA bills comes down to honoring both principles — copyright protection and the free flow of information guaranteed by the First Amendment.

Religion Commentary | Ken Paulson | January 4, 2012

Guarding against religious promotion in school

Vigilance can prevent a well-intentioned motivational program, such as those offered by the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, from crossing the line into endorsement of religion.

1 for All | Ken Paulson | December 8, 2011

The holiday that got away: Why we need to honor the Bill of Rights on Dec. 15

Document guaranteeing our core personal liberties actually has a holiday; we should celebrate one of the most important days in U.S. history.

Speech Commentary | Ken Paulson | November 28, 2011

Tweet backlash: Kan. officials learn lesson about free speech

An adolescent message directed to 65 of student’s closest friends became a national story because of mishandling by governor’s staff.

Speech Commentary | Ken Paulson | November 18, 2011

Not many exceptions to free-speech guarantee

In contrast to what some have said, in America we have extraordinary latitude to say what we believe without fear of repression, making the U.S. a model for other nations.

Speech Commentary | Ken Paulson | November 11, 2011

Cigarette makers have freedom not to speak

Federal judge’s ruling that government can’t mandate use of unsettling images on cigarette packages underscores the principle that free speech includes the right not to say anything at all.

First Amendment Commentary | Ken Paulson | November 9, 2011

Introducing ‘Free to Tweet’

Today we’re launching an unprecedented public-education campaign to raise awareness about the First Amendment and the importance of Dec. 15.

First Amendment Program, Press Commentary | Ken Paulson | October 27, 2011

Judges, journalists talking to each other is good for public

First Amendment Center’s 13-year Justice and Journalism program spans a trend: from journalists urging judges to encourage news coverage of courts, to judges asking where all the coverage has gone.

Assembly Commentary | Ken Paulson | October 18, 2011

Freedom to assemble, not camp out indefinitely

In most cities, ‘Occupy Wall Street’ protesters could show up at a public park every morning and go home at dusk, and there would be no challenge to their presence.

Press Commentary | Ken Paulson | October 11, 2011

Justice Scalia: reflections on New York Times v. Sullivan

Justice’s criticisms of the 1964 case remind us that the free-press protections it provided are not set in stone and shouldn’t be taken for granted.

Speech Commentary | Ken Paulson | October 4, 2011

Excess web filtering in schools hurts education

Too often filters are blunt instruments, cutting off access to ideas just because a word or two are regarded as so loaded that they trigger automated censorship.

Speech Commentary | Ken Paulson | October 4, 2011

Hank Williams Jr. tests free-speech tolerance

If you defended the Dixie Chicks when they attacked President Bush, then you should also defend Hank Williams Jr.’s free-speech right to criticize, however offensively, President Obama.
Also:

  • Ken Paulson appeared on ESPN’s ‘Outside the Lines’ discussing the Monday Night Football theme song dust-up.

Speech Commentary | Ken Paulson | September 26, 2011

‘Irvine 11’ disruption not an act of free-speech heroism

Students who shouted down Israeli ambassador had ample other opportunities to convey their messages of protest.

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About The First Amendment Center

We support the First Amendment and build understanding of its core freedoms through education, information and entertainment.

The center serves as a forum for the study and exploration of free-expression issues, including freedom of speech, of the press and of religion, and the rights to assemble and to petition the government.

Founded by John Seigenthaler, the First Amendment Center is an operating program of the Freedom Forum and is associated with the Newseum and the Diversity Institute. The center has offices in the John Seigenthaler Center at Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tenn., and at the Newseum in Washington, D.C.

The center’s programs, including the Religious Freedom Education Project at the Newseum, provide education and information to the public and groups including First Amendment scholars and experts, educators, government policy makers, legal experts and students. The center is nonpartisan and does not lobby, litigate or provide legal advice. See First Amendment Center Fact Sheet and FAQs. See internships info.

The center’s website, www.firstamendmentcenter.org, is one of the most authoritative sources of news, information and commentary in the nation on First Amendment issues. It features daily updates on news about First Amendment-related developments, as well as detailed reports about U.S. Supreme Court cases involving the First Amendment, and commentary, analysis and special reports on free expression, press freedom and religious-liberty issues. Support the work of the First Amendment Center.

1 For All

1 for All is a national nonpartisan program designed to build understanding and support for First Amendment freedoms. 1 for All provides teaching materials to the nation’s schools, supports educational events on America’s campuses and reminds the public that the First Amendment serves everyone, regardless of faith, race, gender or political leanings. It is truly one amendment for all. Visit 1 for All at http://1forall.us/

Help tomorrow’s citizens find their voice: Teach the First Amendment

The most basic liberties guaranteed to Americans – embodied in the 45 words of the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution – assure Americans a government that is responsible to its citizens and responsive to their wishes.

These 45 words are as alive and important today as they were more than 200 years ago. These liberties are neither liberal nor conservative, Democratic nor Republican – they are the basis for our representative democratic form of government.

We know from studies beginning in 1997 by the nonpartisan First Amendment Center, and from studies commissioned by the Knight Foundation and others, that few adult Americans or high school students can name the individual five freedoms that make up the First Amendment.

The lesson plans – drawn from materials prepared by the Newseum and the First Amendment Center – will draw young people into an exploration of how their freedoms began and how they operate in today’s world. Students will discuss just how far individual rights extend, examining rights in the school environment and public places. The lessons may be used in history and government, civics, language arts and journalism, art and debate classes. They may be used in sections or in their entirety. Many of these lesson plans indicate an overall goal, offer suggestions on how to teach the lesson and list additional resources and enrichment activities.

See more about lesson plans.

First Amendment Moot Court Competition

The First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution – the cornerstone of American democracy – is the focus of the National First Amendment Moot Court Competition. Recognized as one of the nation's finest constitutional-law competitions, this annual event features a current First Amendment controversy.

During the two-day competition in February, each team will participate in a minimum of four rounds, arguing a hypothetical based on a current First Amendment controversy before panels of accomplished jurists, legal scholars and attorneys.

Past participants in the National First Amendment Moot Court Competition have represented law schools nationwide, from Brooklyn Law School to Duke University to Arizona State to Harvard.

The 22nd Annual National First Amendment Moot Court Competition is Feb. 16-17, 2012. See registration information and details about the competition.

FIRST AMENDMENT CENTER ARCHIVES

State of the First Amendment survey reports

The State of the First Amendment surveys, commissioned since 1997 by the First Amendment Center and Newseum, are a regular check on how Americans view their first freedoms of speech, press, assembly, religion and petition.

The periodic surveys examine public attitudes toward freedom of speech, press, religion and the rights of assembly and petition; and sample public opinion on contemporary issues involving those freedoms. See the reports.