National expert advocates discussion on First Amendment
Mark Goodman, Knight Chair of Scholastic Journalism at Kent State, will address students on Tuesday at the Scripps Howard First Amendment Center’s annual First Amendment Celebration concerning the state of the First Amendment in today’s society and the consequences of not upholding it.
“I think that we can see in the course of the recent history of this country some lessening in our appreciation for or defense of the First Amendment and the values it stands for,†Goodman said.
Goodman said he will talk about both national events and more specific events in individual communities that help illustrate the problem.
The First Amendment is the key defender of a necessary predicate to democracy, Goodman said.
“I think the protections that are included in the First Amendment ensure that we have the strongest democracy possible,†he said.
The mission of the Scripps Howard First Amendment Center is to promote understanding of the First Amendment among citizens of Kentucky, to advocate for First Amendment rights in the Commonwealth and nationally, and to produce internationally recognized scholarships concerning the First Amendment and its related freedoms, according to the Scripps Howard Web site.
Goodman said the amendment is the most fundamental value unique to American democracy, yet he does not think people appreciate it strongly enough.
To help Americans appreciate it, Goodman said people need to talk about what the amendment means and why Americans believe in it, what the reasons for putting it in the Constitution were and why people defend it.
The media needs to spend more time and energy talking about the values of the First Amendment and why those values are important, Goodman said.
“We all have to be advocates for it,†he said.
Goodman said people should care about the First Amendment because it ensures that every belief has a right to be heard.
“We must support those who we disagree with it just as strongly as those who are our allies,†he said. “I definitely hope to challenge people about what free expression means and why it’s important.â€
Former Kernel editor honored for advocacy
David Hawpe, formerly of The Courier-Journal, will be presented with the fourth annual James Madison Award for Service to the First Amendment.
The award will be presented during the Scripps Howard First Amendment Center’s annual First Amendment Celebration Tuesday at the W.T. Young Library at 6 p.m.
Hawpe was nominated for the award by Keith Runyon, editor of The Courier-Journal’s editorial page.
Runyon said in a news release that Hawpe deserved the Madison award because of the distinct mark he left on journalism in Kentucky.
Mike Farrell, director of the First Amendment Center, said four people were nominated, but the committee felt Hawpe deserved the award because of his work as a reporter, editor and watchdog on the government for more than 40 years at The Courier-Journal.
“It’s not that the others didn’t merit it, it’s just that he had a longer, stronger effort of supporting the freedom of the press,†Farrell said.
Some of Hawpe’s accomplishments include leading The Courier-Journal’s effort to force the University of Louisville to open records, which included a list of donors related to the university’s foundation; advocating on the editorial page for opening more records to the public and admitting the public to hearings in juvenile court and family court; and challenging closed meetings and unavailable public records.
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