MORE ARTICLES FROM ‘Press Commentary’
Making the case for cameras in the Supreme Court
The disputed subject of placing television cameras in the U.S. Supreme Court has evoked passion for decades on both sides of the argument, with – no surprise – the justices’ “no” winning out.
White House threats and regrets: A little perspective
It’s important to examine “threats” against the press with a sense of history..
Restrictions on paparazzi take toll on First Amendment
It’s open season on paparazzi in celebrity-laden states as legislatures gear up to protect the rich and famous. Most recently, the Hawaii legislature was so grateful that Steven Tyler purchased a home on Maui that they named an anti-paparazzi bill after him
Base locations, drones present challenges for free press
Much attention has been focused in recent days on the Obama administration’s semi-secret “drone” program and on reports of covert surveillance and lethal attacks on terrorist targets in the Middle East and elsewhere.
The use of such deadly force through the use of remotely piloted aircraft by the U.S. military certainly deserves scrutiny – as does [...]
Misfire: Gun-permit controversy leads to flawed legislation
Maryland legislator’s bill to prohibit newspapers from publishing information about firearm owners is a baffling backlash against a New York paper’s release of such public records.
First Amendment predictions for 2013 include disputes over leaks
Expect Congress to revisit the free-speech and free-press issues surrounding news sources and the leaking of secrets and classified documents.
After Newtown: the real toll of ‘journalistic bedlam’
The best protection for a free press is professionalism, and much of the news reporting on the horrible school shootings has fallen short of the basic standard of accuracy vital to journalism.
How ‘Telecopter’ creator changed the way we see news
John Silva’s legacy is a reshaped identity of our modern free press, both in how it reports the news and in what the news-viewing public expects.
Subway death photo prompts storm of criticism
With a free press, what editors decide to post, publish and air should be subject to self-imposed journalistic standards and to public opinion, but not government intervention.
Petraeus affair reminds us how little is private
That virtually everything we do online can be traced has implications for our First Amendment freedoms of speech, press, petition and association.
Calif. anti-paparazzi charges dismissed
Judge rules that the state can curb unsafe driving by photographers chasing celebrities most effectively through traffic laws, not by targeting free-press rights protected by the First Amendment.
An ‘important voice’ for the homeless is effectively silenced
Ruling in favor of Brentwood, Tenn., ordinance against selling street newspaper The Contributor to stopped motorists could have balanced First Amendment rights and safety interests better.
Ill. camera coverage of big trials working superbly
Rousing success of state Supreme Court policy is pleasing the news media, converting skeptics who initially opposed allowing broadcast and electronic coverage from courtrooms.
Anonymous speech at risk in Memphis case
A government body is trying to bolster its chances of winning a lawsuit at the expense of people who commented on a website on a public issue.
The First Amendment Center is an educational organization and cannot provide legal advice.
Ken Paulson is president and chief executive officer of the First Amendment Center at Vanderbilt University and in Washington, D.C. Previously, Paulson served as the editor and senior vice president/news of USA Today.
Gene Policinski, senior vice president and executive director of the First Amendment Center and president and chief operating officer of the Diversity Institute, is a veteran journalist whose career has included work in newspapers, radio, television and online.
John Seigenthaler founded the First Amendment Center in 1991 with the mission of creating national discussion, dialogue and debate about First Amendment rights and values.
Dr. Charles C. Haynes is director of the Religious Freedom Education Project at the Newseum. He writes and speaks extensively on religious liberty and religion in American public life.
David L. Hudson Jr. is an expert in First Amendment issues who writes for firstamendmentcenter.org and for other publications. Hudson teaches law and was a scholar at the First Amendment Center.
Tiffany Villager is director/First Amendment studies at the First Amendment Center, which she joined in 1993. She also served as the center’s research manager and research coordinator, and developed the center’s library.
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Tragedies reshape free speech, free press
Two national tragedies separated by six years and a day – the April 15 bombing at the Boston Marathon and the April 16, 2007, mass shooting at Virginia Tech University – also are notable in marking how technology is reshaping our freedoms of speech and press.