Contemplating Media & the First Amendment
Last week Saturday Night Live aired the second episode of its 44th season, hosted by Aquafina. The show thoroughly covered Brett Kavanaugh’s Supreme Court confirmation. They began with a cold open featuring GOP senators celebrating in a locker room. “Everyone is pumped, from white men over 60 to white men over 70,” said Beck Bennett... Continue Reading →
This New York Times opinion piece brought to my attention the latest addition to the conversation of free speech on college campuses. On September 27th, Professor Mitchell Langbert wrote an entry on his blog* where he characterizes sexual assault as an rite of passage for young men. A response following the allegations against Kavanaugh, Langbert... Continue Reading →
We are all somewhat aware of the incessant information our devices have of us. Fleeting thoughts and underdeveloped opinions make their way onto our search engines. We may forget after a couple of hours, but our devices won't. Fragments of our conversations, visited locations, pictures, personal information and documented thoughts will mold together to form... Continue Reading →
When discussing the speech that should be protected under the First Amendment, most find it easy to agree that factual criticism should always be allowed. Permitting dissent without punishment is for the benefit of the people as it is their right to be informed. But when it comes down to offensive parody, some find it... Continue Reading →
It’s often said that the media are the fourth branch of the United States government. They report. They reflect. They respond. They represent. Individuals comprise the media. It is important to make that distinction. Donald Trump often reports that the media are the enemy of the American people. He paints them as this malicious, vile... Continue Reading →
After reading the chapters New York Times v. Sullivan, Near v. Minnesota and Hustler Magazine v. Falwell in Freedom of the Press, I felt conflicted. On a side note these cases have do with freedom of press. I like being informed what is happening in the news. I like the freedom I could write an opinion... Continue Reading →
Last Thursday, the country stood in stand still mesmerized by the Kavanaugh hearings. After the hearings the country went wild over Kavanaugh's testimony, the Republicans forcefulness over desperately trying to confirm the judge and the decision for a limited scope FBI investigation. Today, the American Civil Liberties Union denounced Kavanaugh’s nomination to the Supreme Court... Continue Reading →
On Monday, October 1, President Trump held a press conference in the rose garden. This was his second press conference within the week - the first being held in New York on Wednesday, September 26 - and both were equally freewheeling and genuine to the Trump we saw campaign before the 2016 election. An entirely... Continue Reading →
Senator Lindsey Graham just couldn’t seem to bite his tongue during Thursday’s Kavanaugh hearing as #StopKavanaugh became the mantra well into the weekend on every social media outlet. South Carolina’s Republican senator has earned himself a remarkable number of retweets and shares coupled with enough media attention to last us into next year. Highlighted on... Continue Reading →
As Near v. Minnesota--the case we’ve all been studying--made clear, prior restraints on publication infringe on the freedom of the press protected by the First Amendment. Despite the fact that the Near case set this legal precedent nearly 90 years ago, that hasn’t stopped the issue of prior restraint from making headlines or from threatening... Continue Reading →
Free Press Free Speech 