‘Free to Tweet’ celebrates First Amendment
WASHINGTON — During a daylong online celebration of First Amendment rights, high school and college students nationwide can win one of 22 $5,000 scholarships through “Free to Tweet” on Dec. 15, the 220th anniversary of our right to free expression.
Beginning at midnight on Dec. 15, students ages 14 to 22 can tweet their support for the First Amendment with the hashtag #freetotweet, which will enter them in the “Free to Tweet” scholarship competition. Students are encouraged to freely express themselves in their entries, which can be posted on any publicly viewable social media platform, including blogs.
The initiative is funded by the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation and organized by 1 for All, an unprecedented educational and public service campaign that builds understanding of the First Amendment and its five distinct freedoms: speech, press, religion, assembly and petition.
The Knight Foundation’s recently released “Future of the First Amendment” survey indicates that young people who use social media have a better understanding of First Amendment freedoms.
“It matters what young people say about the First Amendment because each generation re-interprets these fundamental rights, often using the latest tools and technologies,” said Michael Maness, vice president of journalism and media innovation for Knight Foundation. “Today’s high school and college students are tomorrow’s defenders of the First Amendment and all the other freedoms set forth in the Bill of Rights.”
All Americans are urged to join the online celebration by tweeting their support for the First Amendment and help reinvigorate the often-overlooked Bill of Rights Day. In late November of 1941, President Franklin D. Roosevelt proclaimed Dec. 15 a national holiday on the 150th anniversary of the amendments’ adoption, declaring Americans “will not, under any threat … surrender the guarantee of liberty our forefathers framed for us in our Bill of Rights.” Just days later, Pearl Harbor was attacked and the United States entered World War II. The holiday declaration was largely forgotten.
“December 15 is the anniversary of the day America embraced the First Amendment and the entire Bill of Rights, but unfortunately it is all but forgotten as a national holiday,” said Ken Paulson, a founder of the 1 for All campaign and president of the American Society of News Editors. “’Free to Tweet’ is a dynamic, multi-platform effort to rekindle appreciation for freedoms we dare not take for granted.”
Joining in support of 1 for All and the “Free to Tweet” campaign are such artists as Blake Shelton, Ke$ha, Brad Paisley, Joe Nichols, Mary Chapin Carpenter, Wynonna Judd, Darius Rucker, The Civil Wars, Sarah Jarosz, Jana Kramer, John Oates, Frankie Ballard, Elenowen and Joanna Smith.
Students can enter the scholarship competition by tweeting a message of support — using the hashtag #freetotweet — for the First Amendment. The tweet can be self-contained or link to original content on a website or other social media platform. A panel of educators and First Amendment experts will review the entries and award 22 $5,000 scholarships, one for every decade since the ratification of the Bill of Rights. Judging criteria and complete rules can be found at www.1forall.us/freetotweet.
As part of 1 for All’s daylong celebration of the First Amendment on Dec. 15, the Newseum in Washington, D.C., will host a conference for educators on how to use social media to teach about freedom of expression. The event will also be webcast and available to teachers nationwide. More information on this event can be found at http://www.newseum.org.
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About 1 for All
1 for All is a non-partisan, educational campaign that was launched in 2010 to address a general lack of awareness by the American public about the five freedoms afforded by the First Amendment. Initial support for campaign was provided by the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation, Newseum, McCormick Foundation, American Society of News Editors, First Amendment Center and Gannett Foundation. In addition, more than 1,000 news organizations, religious groups and educational institutions have devoted their time and resources in support of the 1 for All campaign. More information at 1forall.us.
About Knight Foundation
Knight Foundation supports transformational ideas that promote quality journalism, advance media innovation, engage communities and foster the arts. The foundation believes that democracy thrives when people and communities are informed and engaged. More information at knightfoundation.org.
Media contact:
Nate West
Seigenthaler Public Relations
615/327-7999
nwest@seigenthaler.com
Tags: 1 for All
9 Responses to “‘Free to Tweet’ celebrates First Amendment”
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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.
Gene Policinski, senior vice president and executive director of the First Amendment Center, 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 a scholar at the First Amendment Center. Hudson writes for firstamendmentcenter.org and for other publications devoted to First Amendment issues.
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.
Only for ages 14-22? Not everyone in college is that young but could still use the money with the ridiculous cost of education these days. If you are a college student you should be eligible, period.
I would agree with Jeremy — I’m in college now and completing my degree. Due to the downturn in economic conditions, I’m a college student but I’m over 50 — so in college (period) would be a great idea!
Thanks for the FreetoTweet idea and concept!
Don
To Whom It May Concern;
I am glad to see you celebrating our rights but how can you put a limit like that on age? Many college students these days are returning or first time students and they are older. I am such a person and I can tell you it is a lot harder for a person my age-late 30s, to find funding than it is for the younger students. Please reconsider this policy–it is a form of discrimination.
I also agree. I am 34 and going back to school, with a husband that works full time and an infant to take care of. We barely make enough to live on, and financial aid is having to help with that as it is. If you’re a college student you SHOULD be eligible. Why discriminate against older students? I find that biased and seriously unfair.
Hi…i am so exciting about this! But I am just confused about how is this competition going to work?Is it like , i am going to submit a statement or essay about my personal opinions about the first amendment? Or is it more like a debate to argume against with each other? can u pls be more specify on the process of the competition? Will be really appreciated!!
You would simply tweet (140 characters) how important the First Amendment is to you. See http://1forall.us/freetotweet/ for more information, including the rules.
How on earth are you going to sort through all the TWEETS with the #freetotweet hashtag and sort out the ones that are from ages 14-22? I ask this because EVERYONE is being encouraged to TWEET on that day, not just people entering the contest!
bj
[...] You can read the rest of the details here. [...]
[...] the hashtag #FreeToTweet. It’s really simple. So tweet away, and encourage others to do the same. Read more, and if you’d like a reminder to tweet on Dec. 15, sign up for an e-mail reminder here. [...]