The award honors New Hampshire residents and organizations who have worked to protect free speech and free press. The recipient, or recipients, will be recognized Nov. 16 during a ceremony at the Palace Theatre in Manchester.

A committee of judges chooses the winner from a pool of nominations submitted by the public. First Amendment recipients receive a bronze eagle sculpture created by Mrs. Loeb, along with a $1,500 award.

Nominations can be submitted at http://www.loebschool.org, or by calling 627-0005. The deadline to submit nominations is Sept 11.

The award and the school are legacies of the late Nackey S. Loeb, past president and publisher of the New Hampshire Union Leader and Sunday News. The awards night is the main yearly fundraiser for the nonprofit school, founded in 1999 by Loeb. Its free classes and low-cost workshops attract students including middle schoolers and retirees. Instructors from media outlets and businesses around the state teach topics such as the First Amendment, journalism, photography, broadcasting, audio and video production, social media and public speaking.

Past recipients include former state Attorney General Philip McLaughlin, former Keene Sentinel Executive Editor Thomas Kearney, The Laconia Citizen, former legislator Daniel Hughes, former Dover City Councilor David Scott, Londonderry High School journalism adviser Mary Lukas, First Amendment attorney William Chapman, former ConVal School Board member Gail Pierson Cromwell, The Portsmouth Herald, David Lang and the Professional Fire Fighters of New Hampshire, The Telegraph of Nashua, slain journalist James Foley, former Portsmouth police officer John Connors, open government activist David Pearl and Timberlane Regional School Board member Donna Green.

This years panel of judges includes Rod Doherty, former executive editor of Fosters Daily Democrat; retired N.H. Supreme Court Justice Richard Galway; attorney Gregory Sullivan of Malloy & Sullivan LPC; and previous First Amendment Award recipients John Howe, the former Laconia Citizen executive editor; and Londonderry High journalism adviser Lukas.

pfeely@unionleader.com

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Loeb School accepting First Amendment Award nominations - The Union Leader