Category Archives: First Amendment

Life was hard in the American West of old. Water could be scarce, infrastructure was non-existant, the natives were sometimes deadly, and the law could be hours or even days away. But hard times breed hard people, and the people who settled the West tamed the West. What was once a wild frontier soon grew into America's economic engine of resource production and technological innovation.

Life can be hard in modern Florida, too. Think of the sweltering heat, streets built on top of sinkhole sands, Yankee immigrants who think they can wrestle alligators, and foreign tourists determined to cut in front of you in line at Hollywood Studios. And yet, Florida Man not only survives, but thrives. Could it be that Florida Man will stand at the forefront of the next great American Renaissance?

Let's dig into the headlines and find out, on another exciting...

We'll begin as we always do with...

380-pound Florida man arrested after hiding drugs in belly button.

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Investigators found a 28-gauge needle on Skelly, and he was arrested on charges of possession of methamphetamine, The Smoking Gun reported, citing an arrest affidavit.

Police searched Skelly before he was booked at Pinellas County Jail.

It's always in the last place you look, but I'm thinking I must be a horrible person for wondering if it was a two-man job to get to that guy's belly button.

The report says that Florida Man "was possibly dealing with mental health issues and/or appeared to be dealing with the effects of some substance." I say, embrace the healing power of "and." Florida Man "has not yet been identified and has not been charged with anything," which makes me think maybe there was something more wrong than just a bad batch of bath salts.

I hope Florida Man Gets the help he needs. As for Florida Woman, she's feeling friskier than usual, as you're about to see.

Multiple times? I'm thinking after the second or third bite, I'd be asking the waiter to bring the check around, and maybe a tetanus shot.

Police: Man identified himself as Brad Pitt during arrest.

Heh:

When police approached and detained the suspect, the owner of the vehicle said he didnt know the man and that he didnt give him permission to be inside it.

Police said the man didnt want to tell the officers his real name and proceeded to give them fake names, such as Brad Pitt, Nancy Pelosi, Marco Rubio and even Donald Trump.

When police questioned him, the man said he was under the influence of drugs or alcohol.

"Or?" As in, he couldn't remember which?

By the way, police eventually were able to establish his true identity: Florida Man.

The scene in my head is right out of one of Elmore Leonard's more absurd novels.

Florida Men break into new Fernandina Beach hotel, do $500,000 damage.

Based on the mugshot, this is definitely a "it seemed like a good idea at the time" kind of guy.

Longtime readers know I'm a sucker for a good animal story, even in Florida, where the animals can be palmetto bugs the size of miniature poodles, or meth-addled alligators.

So isn't this just lovely?

Florida Man demands bank teller give him less money during alleged robbery.

Florida Woman arrested trying to spend night, cook food in Daytona Walgreens.

Florida Man Accused Of Stabbing Woman Over Underdone Potato.

How a Florida Woman Who Won $13 Million Lottery Jackpot Ended Up in Prison.

Florida man driving with open beer blames the wind for blowing cocaine into his car.

And now, back to our regular Florida Man news...

It is possible to completely understand this occurrence without endorsing it.

Likely, even.

How a sance and a football game led to a Florida man getting kicked in the groin.

What could one possibly add to that?

How good does that sound? Sort of a Florida variation on a Manhattan. Will make a couple this weekend and try to remember to report back to you.

Thanks, Florida Man!

Florida man jailed for cursing out judge in letter sparking First Amendment fight.

This was a letter. Florida Man didn't disrupt a legal proceeding or get in the judge's face or anything like that. He just wrote a letter to a public servant in search of redress of grievances. The law is on Florida Man's side this time, or at least it ought to be.

Elsewhere...

WELL, UBER DOESN'T TAKE CASH: Florida man accused of taking taxi to and from bank robbery.

Raging fire consumes mans house then he steals a cop car, Arkansas police say.

A headline like that can mean only one thing: Florida Man has exactly one week to reclaim his crown of glory in time for the next exciting...

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Florida Man Friday Saves the First Amendment | VodkaPundit - PJ Media

If youve been reading Binghamton Review headlines, youll know that crazed leftists have been preventing conservative students from expressing their right to free speech by forming a leftist mob. However, if you look a little closer at the real story, youll recognize the headlines and statements for what they are: an attempt to spin events in conservatives favor.

On Nov. 18, protesters shut down an event hosted by Binghamton University College Republicans and Young Americas Foundation, who invited Arthur Laffer to speak on campus. If youre familiar with Laffer, the most recent target of the crazed leftists, you may know that he was a key adviser to former President Ronald Reagan and an architect of the explosion in inequality that transpired under that administration. Does that sound like someone whos at risk of having their free speech taken away by college students? Am I expected to believe that my freedoms, security and comfort are under threat from college protesters, and powerful and wealthy men like Laffer are my allies in this fight for free speech? I feel insulted by the suggestion that this could be true.

Freedom of speech, an inviolable principle of political democracy, has been turned into a political bludgeon by the political right. There is not a single student or student organization on campus that has the power to threaten the freedom of speech of someone like Laffer. Freedom of speech exists so that people like Laffer can be held accountable, not so that they can endlessly run the university lecture circuit. I was under the impression that student protest was considered a component of freedom of speech, and not evidence of crazed leftism.

When students yell, lack civility or use politically polarizing language, are they not exercising their right to freedom of speech? We may disagree politically and on what manner of action is appropriate to voice our views, but this disagreement is not one around the freedom of speech. Progressive student organizations on campus have their political views and goals, and clearly so do Turning Point USA (TPUSA) and College Republicans. Are we supposed to pretend these arguments will never result in protests, angry yelling or confrontation?

While the average BU student enjoys a relatively privileged lifestyle, it is important to remember that political decisions affect peoples lives. People like Laffer helped construct policies that hurt workers, while their superiors like Reagan went on racist rants behind closed doors. When Reagan dealt a death blow to the power of organized labor in America, the right did not protest the repression of their freedom of speech or right to strike. Rather, they celebrated the accomplishment of their political goal. When you choose to agitate for your political views, when you choose to bring archconservatives to campus, you have entered the sphere of public debate. I think that TPUSA and College Republicans should be allowed to say what they say. But I think if politics is to be understood as the serious matter it is, then rhetorical tricks using free speech as a bludgeon against crazed leftists should be off the table. Calling organized students mobs also strikes me as a deeply anti-democratic sentiment. If students of color, LGBTQ students and their allies see a reason to yell and protest, people should listen. Disagreement is a natural fact of political life and is protected by freedom of speech which is exactly what protesting students were exercising.

John-Paul Keblinski is a junior double-majoring in sociology and geography.

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BU protesters were exercising their First Amendment rights - Binghamton University Pipe Dream

Largest Alumni Gift Ever

David and Carolyn Miller donated $50 million to the Cox School of Business, the largest alumni gift in its history.

This donation will help support the schools plan to modernize curriculum by offering more scholarships, collaborating across the campus on new interdisciplinary programs, and enhancing facilities.

David earned his bachelors degree in finance and MBA from SMU. He has served on the SMU Board of Trustees for 11 years and as a Cox School of Business executive board member.

David said he appreciates SMU President R. Gerald Turners leadership of the university and the improvements he has made to both the university and the school of business. He also stated that Dean Matt Myers has a vision and a plan for how to take Cox to a higher level.

Our gift is all about supporting that vision, Miller said.

The Millers past support includes the David B. Miller Endowed Professorship, the Don Jackson Center for Financial Studies, the MBA-Military Scholarships, and the David Miller Endowed Scholarship fund.

First Amendment Clinic

Thanks to a gift of $900,000 from the Stanton Foundation, SMUs School of Law will launch a First Amendment clinic that will focus on issues such as free speech, freedom of the press, and freedom of assembly and petition.

We believe that freedom of expression and the First Amendment must be protected by enhancing law students understanding of the First Amendment and providing a resource for organizations, students, journalists, and citizens defending their First Amendment right, said David Johnson, spokesman for the Foundation.

Tom Leatherbury, a partner at Vinson & Elkins LLP with 40 years of experience, will serve as the director and an adjunct professor to help direct the clinic.

Researching Minecraft

SMU Lyle School of Engineering, Guildhall, and the Simmons School of Education and Human Development are using a grant from the National Science Foundation to research teaching computer science and computation thinking through the popular video game Minecraft.

Were presented with the challenge of finding creative ways to positively impact student outcomes in STEM and the value it can provide in the learning experience, said Leanne Ketterlin Geller, professor and Texas Instrument endowed chair in education at Simmons.

The research will study game design, human-computer interaction, machine learning, curriculum design, and education assessment by integrating STEM-based curriculum into the game. The research begins this month, with funding extending through 2022.

The goal is to create a more stable, ethical, and inclusive data science workforce by enhancing the interest in data science to an assorted population of K-12 students.

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Happenings on the Hill - Preston Hollow People

Mike Dunleavy, Opinion contributor Published 6:00 a.m. ET Nov. 23, 2019

No one should be forced to give their money to issues they don't support. That's why my state is working quickly to implement this new decision.

Recently,Idirectedmy states government agencies to defend our employees First Amendment rights by complying with last yearsJanus v. AFSCMESupreme Courtruling. Our unionized state workers should be able to notify their employers, whether they consent to the withdrawal of union dues from their paychecks. This consent may be withdrawn at any time.

As a result, Im proud to report that Alaska will become thefirst stateto comply with the Supreme Courts directive that governments obtain the clear and affirmative consent of each worker. These reforms will ensure that our hardworking public servants retain their freedom of association and cannot be forced to support political organizations with whom they do not agree.

As an Illinois state employee, Mark Janus believed it was unconstitutional for the state government to automatically deduct the local unions fair share fee from his paycheck. That money was then used to subsidize political activity he opposed. The Supreme Courtagreed, finding that all public union dues and fees must be deducted with the affirmative consent of each employee.

Alaska Gov. Mike Dunleavy(Photo: Beck Bohrer/AP)

Because the compelled subsidization of private speech seriously impinges on First Amendment rights, it cannot be casually allowed,writesJustice Samuel Alito.

The justices also made it clear that an employees waiving of their First Amendment rights cannot be presumed.

Earlier this year, I instructed my attorney general, to review all my administrations employee policies. It wasdiscoveredthat the state was not in compliance withJanus. I quickly endorsed a plan to conduct a rigorous legal review and agreed to immediately implement proposed policy remedies.

Teacher: Supreme CourtsJanus v AFSCMEruling will force unions to be more accountable

The attorney generals suggested fixes addressed several key deficiencies. For example, state employees were previously given a brief10-day windoweach year to withdraw their consent. Worse, these records were procured solely by the unions, meaning the state could not hope to verify the clear and compelling evidence of consent thatJanusrequires. Employees should be able to change their mind at any point and not need to obtain union paperwork to do so, ensuring that consent is freely given or revoked.

And for those that have sought to downplay the significance of violating the First Amendment for their own political gain, I would point out that the impact on our workers was not simply an abstract constitutional concern. The effect of this free speech violation had direct financial repercussions on the lives of our families.

For reference, about70 percentof this hypothetical familys dues will be spent on political activism and litigation, such as the litigation ASEA recently initiated to strip members of their First Amendment rights. An additional 22 percent of those dues are given to the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, the largest and most politically active public employees union in the U.S.

I fully support those who chose to voluntarily redirect a portion of their paychecks to ASEA and AFSCME in support of such activities. The right to freely associate is, after all, constitutionallyprotected. However, I find it unacceptable that a family who no longer agrees with a unions lobbying efforts is forced to continue to fund a political organization against their will.

This is wrong. Not simply because the Supreme Court or Alaskas attorney general deemed it so, but because no organization governmental or political should possess the power to forcibly strip individuals of their constitutional rights. No American should be forced to associate with a political group with whom they disagree, regardless of any prior support.

Should political entities seek to deny Alaska public servants their freedom of association, I will make certainthat my administration wage a tireless battle to secure each workers unalienable rights.

No one should be forced to join a union: We need to pass the National Right-to-Work Act.

The question still remains that not all states have yet to fully comply withJanus.I respect that all governors are confronted with a myriad of important issues and each must prioritize the order as it meets their states needs.My state is unique in that it employs a larger percentage of public employees that other states do not. Therefore, not complying withJanus infringesupon the rights of a larger portion of our population.

Additionally, as other states review this landmark decision by the Supreme Court, some of my fellow governors may share these concerns and take similar steps to protect their states workers. The belief that state employees should be free to practice their First Amendment rights, 365 days a year, is a profound and deeply rooted conviction held by many freedom-loving Americans across the country.

MikeDunleavy is the governor of Alaska. Follow him on Twitter: @GovDunleavy

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Governor of Alaska: My state will be the first to comply with SCOTUS' new union ruling. - USA TODAY

MARTINSBURG Retired Delegate John Overington announced his 2019 First Amendment Recognition Award to Charles and Mary Edgar for their efforts in standing up for the sanctity of life.

This couple has for decades been pro-life warriors in their vigorous defense of the Right to Life.

Their articulate and unwavering communication in the media, at rallies, with Letters to the Editor in a positive and constructive way for decades, has been critical in assisting in educating the public on this important issue. Overington stated.

Whether this husband/wife team is active in writing about the importance of being active in the education process or the political arena, their dedication with this issue has made a difference, he said.

Recently Charles Edgar wrote about the importance of being active, rolling up your sleeves and doing something, to make a difference.

Mary Edgar wrote about our Declaration of Independence, and the inalienable right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. Without life, without being born nothing else matters.

Good government does not occur on its own, but because of the vigilance of its citizens. Many years ago I saw an ad that read, To speak out clearly and fairly not only is it a constitutional rightit is a moral duty. This award is for those unpaid citizens who do this, Overington said

At a recent Pro-Life dinner at St. James Catholic Church, Bishop Mark Brennan of the Diocese of Wheeling Charleston blessed the couple for their work. Deacon David Galvin of the St. James Greater Roman Catholic Church praised them for their efforts.

The three-county Pro-Life chapters of West Virginians for Life in Jefferson, Berkeley and Morgan Counties, with Regina Smith, Pam Brush and Betsy Wolfe respectively also gave the Edgars a plaque for their efforts.

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Overington recognizes Edgars with First Amendment Recognition Award - Martinsburg Journal

NASHVILLE, Tenn Two families are tired of feeling like "second-class citizens" in the Smith County public school system due to their beliefs, according to a press release from the American Civil Liberties Union of Tennessee and the ACLU.

According to them, school officials unlawfully promoted religion in public schools, violating the First Amendment.

The lawsuit alleges that officials directed prayer during mandatory assemblies, distributed and displayed Bibles during classes, posted Bible verses in hallways and broadcast prayers at sporting events.

It also states that coaches participated in prayer with student-athletes and that a cross painted on the wall of an athletic facility violates the separation between church and state.

When I was in the military, I took an oath to support and defend the Constitution, which includes religious freedom, Kelly Butler said in a press release, a father to several children who attend Smith County schools. Its wrong for the public schools to make my family feel like second-class citizens because of our beliefs.

The ACLU and the ACLU of Tennessee posted tweets about the lawsuit, Butler v. Smith County.

The release said Butler and another family involved in the lawsuit are both atheists. They are also seeking a preliminary injunction to stop the practices outlined in the lawsuit.

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Smith County School System sued over first amendment violations, promotion of religion - WBIR.com

WASHINGTON, D.C. Mary Beth Tinker, First Amendment advocate and former plaintiff in a landmark Supreme Court case that still affects students speech rights 50 years later, told her story to hundreds of high school journalism students visiting the nations capital on Nov. 22 encouraging them to be caring, and use their free speech rights to talk about important issues.

Long before she was known as a First Amendment hero to students, Tinker was a young girl from Iowa sitting at home watching the Vietnam War and the Civil Rights Movement play out on television.

In a speech to high schoolers and advisers attending the National High School Journalism Convention, Tinker said those images shocked her. Tinkers father was a Methodist minister, and she was raised to always care for others while acting on the themes of peace and love.

It was Christmas time, and Christmas is all about peace and love; and my dad would read to us from the Bible the story of peace and love and the little baby in the manger and when we looked on the news, we didnt see peace and love, she said. We saw war, war, war.

As a child, she saw young people on the news marching for civil rights in Birmingham, Alabama as part of the Childrens Crusade. The Civil Rights Movement also introduced her to the use of black armbands as a symbol of mourning and a form of silent protest. Later, she was inspired by the military members who began to speak out against the Vietnam War.

So a 13-year-old Tinker joined her brother John, friend Chris Eckhardt, and a few other students in wearing black armbands to school in protest ofthe Vietnam War.

The students were suspended. Soon after, the American Civil Liberties Union filed a First Amendment suit against the school district on their behalf.

Both the district and appeals court ruled against Tinker, her brother and Eckhardt, before the case went before the Supreme Court. The Court reversed the lower courts decisions, and today, Tinker v. Des Moines is the cornerstone for basic protections of free expression by students in public schools.

The Tinker case created a standard for student journalists that protects their First Amendment rights as long as the speech does not cause a significant disruption in a school setting.

But in 1988, the Supreme Court ruled in Hazelwood School District v. Kuhlmeier, that public schools could lawfully censor students for any reason reasonably related to legitimate pedagogical concerns.

The Hazelwood ruling is now cited in most school districts as a standard for censoring student speech. But New Voices laws have been passed in 14 states, restoring the Tinker standard.

Tinker worked as a nurse for most of her adult life. But she left her medical career because she couldnt believe how little the world cared about the opinions of young people.

There are so many ways that young people are disrespected in our society, and the status of young people is not what it should be, she said.

Student journalists play a critical role in recognizing and amplifying the voices of marginalized students, she said. She also said students lucky enough to have a journalism program must advocate for those who dont.

The students that are higher income, that have more white kids in the school; theyre probably going to have journalism, she said. They might even have broadcast journalism.

Because as you come down the income level, theres a sliding scale to the free press, she added. You dont have the free press at many, many schools in the United States.

There are dozens of high schools in the Washington, D.C. area, Tinker said, but only a handful have journalism programs. She said students at Woodrow Wilson High School, who have a well-funded journalism program, cared enough to share some of its resources with another local school, so they could start speaking out.

its important for you to cover issues that are going on in other schools, and to open your eyes outside of just your own school, and your own neighborhoods and your own communities, she said.

Caring. Its at the heart of nursing, she said, and I want it to be at the heart of your lives as well. Because caring about whats going on in the world and paying attention, especially as journalists, is so important.

In 2013 after Tinker left her nursing job, she and SPLC Senior Legal Counsel Mike Hiestand began the Tinker Tour, traveling across the country through 2014, visiting schools to speak about First Amendment rights.

Tinker said she learned during her school visits that racism is still at the heart of the issues we need to work on. She spoke about schools with racist graffiti, and nooses and other racist symbols being used.

Tinker said it is as important for young people to speak up about these issues today as it was in 1964.

Were seeing more and more of these kinds of things, and thats why we need to call it what it is white nationalism, white supremacy, she said.

Tinker at the Newseum

The day before this speech, the Student Press Law Center led more than 80 students on a tour of the Supreme Court, and then brought them to the Newseum, where Tinker surprised the students. Tinkers black armband is on display on the fourth floor of the Newseum.

Tinker asked students about the problems persisting in their schools and encouraged them to cover those issues. She later posed for pictures in front of the armband, which is still glued to a homework assignment Tinker completed after the incident.

The assignment was on the subject of what did you do over Christmas break? Tinker and the other students were suspended on Dec. 16, 1965. Much of her break, she said, was spent dealing with the case.

SPLC reporter Joe Severino can be reached by email at jseverino@splc.org or by calling 202-974-6318. Follow him on Twitter at @jj_severino

Want more stories like this? The Student Press Law Center is a legal and educational nonprofit defending the rights of student journalists. Sign up for weekly email newsletter.

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Mary Beth Tinker to high school journalists: It's your job to speak up on behalf of others - Student Press Law Center

PUBLIC SPACES: Pasco County schools superintendent Kurt Browning takes some heat on his social media accounts, and blocks one of his toughest critics. He reverses himself after being reminded that because he uses the accounts for public business, he cant block the public. The Manatee County School Board faces accusations of discrimination after having a black man removed from its business meeting for refusing to sit down, the Herald-Tribune reports. Video from the Bradenton Herald.

LET THEM PRAY: A federal appeals court reinstates the First Amendment-related lawsuit in which Tampas Cambridge Christian School sued after it was not allowed to use the public address system for prayer at a state high school football championship game, the News Service of Florida reports.

SEEKING SUBSTITUTES: With its substitute teacher fill rate down, the Pasco County school district proposes to increase its pay rate.

FLU SEASON: Hillsborough County schools are experiencing an early outbreak of the flu.

TOP PRINCIPAL: Pasco eSchool founding administrator JoAnne Glenn is named Pasco County 2020 Principal of the Year.

TENSIONS MOUNT: The Marion County School Board will ask Gov. Ron DeSantis to review a report on how superintendent Heidi Maier treated a whistleblower, with an eye toward removing Maier, the Ocala Star-Banner reports. The board and Maier, whose term expires in November 2020, have been fighting an escalating power battle for several months.

FIX IT: Manatee Countys aging Witt Elementary School will get a complete renovation, despite some calls to raze and replace it, the Bradenton Herald reports.

READING RESULTS: The Sarasota County school district releases its latest promotion and retention report, indicating about two-thirds of students were on grade level for reading, the Herald-Tribune reports.

GROWING STRONG: The Santa Rosa County Commission instructs its staff to begin drafting an ordinance to impose school impact fees, just months after saying it didnt have enough information to justify such a move, the Pensacola News-Journal reports. The Lee County school district breaks ground on a new high school as it launches a series of projects to address rising enrollment, the Fort Myers News-Press reports.

MAINTENANCE NEEDS: During a battle over a school district sales tax request, Jacksonville Mayor Lenny Curry asked Duval County school employees to tell him about classroom maintenance needs so he could get them fixed. The ideas came, but no work got done, the Florida Times-Union reports.

SCHOOL DAYS: An Orange County school district survey indicates most parents do not want to have later high school start times, the Orlando Sentinel reports.

TEACHER PAY: Some Alachua County teachers say their salaries dont allow for a stable lifestyle, and a 2 percent raise will do little to help, WUFT reports.

FOOD INSECURITY: The Miami Super Bowl host committee donates breakfast carts to several south Florida schools to help get meals to needing children, the Miami Times reports.

MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES: Citrus County School Board members express dismay with the length of time its taking to get counselors into the schools, the Citrus County Chronicle reports.

SCIENCE LESSONS: Sixth graders at a Lake County middle school will help NASA collect data for a study on airplane contrails, the Daily Commercial reports.

SUPERINTENDENTS EVALUATION: The Polk County School Board says its very satisfied with superintendent Jacqueline Byrd, the Ledger reports.

CHARTER SCHOOLS: A Monroe County charter school prepares to relocate as its lease expires, the Key West Citizen reports.

ON BOARD: Miami-Dade County superintendent Alberto Carvalho is reappointed to the National Assessment Governing Board, Florida Politics reports.

MEDICAL MARIJUANA: The Gulf County school district is the latest to adopt a required medical marijuana usage policy, the Northwest Florida Daily News reports.

BAD ACTS: An Orange County charter schools administrator is arrested on accusations he took videos under the skirts of several females at the school, Fox 35 reports.

TODAY: House PreK-12 Appropriations, 9 a.m.

ICYMI: Yesterdays Florida education news roundup

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Florida education news: First Amendment rights, flu shots and another superintendents struggles - Tampa Bay Times

An article in the Nov. 13 Chronicle reports that four students at Bozeman High School objected to the status of the local Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA) club as an authorized club at BHS.

The students assert that national FCA policies discriminate against gay and lesbian students and that the status of the local FCA club at BHS should be revoked. Those policies support the position that a marriage should be between a man and a woman. The article notes that there is no claim that any of the local members have engaged in any discriminatory practices.

The article reports that the School Board has agreed with the students and has given the local FCA club the choice of disaffiliating with national FCA or losing its club status at BHS. Also, as the article notes, the consequences of losing that status are significant.

Supporters or promoters of gay rights have a protected right to express their views. Those who do not agree with that position are entitled to similar protection. The Supreme Court has said, Discussions regarding matters of political interest are at the core of constitutionally protected rights and that such discussions should be robust. Discussion of gay rights is such a matter.

There are at least three First Amendment rights at issue: free speech, religious freedom and the right to assemble. These rights do not provide support for a position I may take but not for an opposing position.

The action by the School Board discriminates against the FCA students, is not reasonable and should be reversed.

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First Amendment rights are not a one-way street - The Bozeman Daily Chronicle

He said the last few years have shown people that the primary source of information about the world, government and communities is produced by journalists who are struggling.

Social media and other forms of sharing digital information have increased, Ardia said, but the same high-quality information is becoming harder to find.

These are issues that are very difficult, Ardia said. There needs to be a multi-disciplinary conversation, because the challenges we face are multi-disciplinary.

The conference brought together a variety of scholars and media professionals.

Among these professionals were author and journalist Robert Kaiser and Leonard Downie Jr., a professor at the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication at Arizona State University.

When introducing Kaiser and Downie as keynote speakers for the first day of the conference, Ardia said they have a combined 90 years of experience at The Washington Post.

In addition to their extensive bios, Kaiser and Downie co-wrote The News About the News: American Journalism in Peril in 2002 and are working on a follow-up to the book.

Kaiser and Downie discussed the challenges facing journalism today, the transition to online journalism and the impact of social media.

Downie said the different technological ways that large news organizations work to sustain themselves are not always possible for local news organizations. The potentially promising news, he said, is the increase of non-profit news organizations throughout the country.

This collaboration amongst news organizations, nonprofit and for-profit, is also very important for the future of journalism, Downie said.

Ardia said the conference is about what the government, journalists and individuals should do to address the needs of American democracy. He said Americans have seen a decline in the trust of the news.

I think journalists have not been willing in the past to talk about why their work in important, Ardia said. We need to educate the public on why journalism is important.

He said people have a short attention span, and its getting shorter as a result of social media.

Why it is important we understand what goes on in our state government? Why is it important we understand what goes on in our courts? Why is it important that these issues are reported, that we get access to the information?" Ardia said. "I think journalists, especially young journalists today can make that case to convince fellow students and others that this work is important.

university@dailytarheel.com

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First Amendment conference explored diminishing local news as a 'crisis of democracy' - The Daily Tar Heel