Contemplating Media & the First Amendment
Photo from salon.com It’s the most wonderful time of the year: hot chocolate is being consumed by the gallons, stockings are being hung by the chimney with care, Target looks like Santa’s workshop after a robbery, let it snow, let it snow, let it snow! Actually, maybe not snow, I don’t think the Red Line... Continue Reading →
When it comes to issues of libel and defamation, I usually find myself siding with the press. I think of cases like Hustler Magazine v. Falwell or Bollea v. Gawker, or even New York Times v. Sullivan. But what if statements of opinion in the press invalidate accurate facts about important issues like climate science? ... Continue Reading →
An Indiana University professors’ racist, sexist, and homophobic comments throughout the years recently came to light via Twitter account SheRatesDogs, but the University provost stated that it was not enough to fire him (though she did denunciate him and his actions). The quote I find most troubling about provost Professor Robel’s statement, however, is this:... Continue Reading →
Charels Donnelly, 23: “I will shoot any woman any time for any reason.” Police in Redmond, Washington seized Charels Donnelly’s weapons from his home after assessing the threat of Donnelly’s social media posts, including an image of Donnelly holding two AK-47 rifles with the caption “one ticket for joker please,” as well as posts regarding... Continue Reading →
In most countries other than the USA, hate speech is a crime. In fact, in Germany you can end up spending five years in prison for hate speech. The United States has a long history of trying to deal with this type of speech, and currently there are pretty tight restrictions on criminal punishments for... Continue Reading →
At this point, we’ve heard the major arguments as to why a universal freedom of speech is the silver lining in American culture. It isn’t so much about the ability to say as we please but rather the fear of the snowball effect that the contrary could cause that keeps us so passionate about the... Continue Reading →
Last week, a man from Florida went to jail for cursing out a judge in a letter. His use of language has created a debate over the First Amendment right to free speech. Derrick Jenkins was outraged after a judge dismissed his $500 million case against the local sheriff's station. The lawsuit regards a seatbelt... Continue Reading →
"Governor Charlie Baker says he doesn’t need to ride the T. He’s wrong." Boston Globe 11/23/19 In my wild imagination, the headline “Governor Charlie Baker says he doesn’t need to ride the T” evokes the image of a nobleman being brought in a horse-drawn carriage while the rest of the people under his jurisdiction ride... Continue Reading →
Benjamin Netanyahu, Prime Minister of IsraelSource: ABC News Contemporary journalism often fails to lift up the voices and tell the stories of the individuals being impacted by large-scale political or economic situations. This past week, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s indictment based on charges of bribery, breach of trust, and fraud received widespread mainstream media coverage.... Continue Reading →
Brace yourselves, this is actually a First Amendment news story that restores a little faith in humanity! According to a New Hampshire newspaper, a former spinal cord specialist and whistleblower at the Manchester VA Medical Center has just been awarded the 17th Annual Nackey S. Loeb First Amendment Award. The award was "established to honor... Continue Reading →
Free Press Free Speech 