Miami University's journalism program is joining forces with nationally renowned journalists and the Liberty Tree Initiative to promote awareness of the First Amendment and freedom of the press during a series of events Monday.
According to Patricia Newberry, lecturer in the journalism program, the event will present the First Amendment with a journalistic flavor.
"(The event will) get the college generation adequately informed about the rights of the First Amendment and the need to protect oneself," Newberry said.
Last October, Newberry attended the Society of Professional Journalists' national convention and heard Ken Paulson speak. Paulson, editor and senior vice president of USAToday, unveiled "The Liberty Tree Initiative," offering solutions to threatened journalists.
The Liberty Tree Initiative is a national organization promoting awareness of the First Amendment and freedom of the press. The collegiate launch of "The Liberty Tree Initiative: Celebrating the First Amendment" will take place at Miami at 3:30 p.m. Monday, April 7, in the Shriver Center's Heritage Room free of charge.
According to Newberry, Paulson is a dedicated journalist with a passion for the First Amendment. Newberry said that Paulson will be the master of ceremonies at Monday's event.
Richard Campbell, director of the journalism program, helped facilitate Paulson's arrival at Miami. Campbell said he is interested in issues relating to the First Amendment, pointing out how crucial it is to allow journalists to gather and publish information so they can fully participate in a democracy.
Campbell said the fate of the First Amendment was scary after September 11.
"Citizens were willing to sacrifice their basic freedoms," he said. "There is danger in sacrificing liberty for a little more security and safety."
From 4 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday, Paulson will guide prominent guests in a discussion on the First Amendment. Gene Policinski, vice president and executive director of the First Amendment Center in Nashville, Tenn., and Sandra Chance, executive director of the Brechner Center for Freedom of Information in Gainesville, Fla., will focus on national issues. Richard Goehler, attorney with Frost Brown Todd in Cincinnati and Mickey Johnson, executive editor of the Palladium-Item in Richmond, Ind., provide local perspectives. Don Henry, singer-songwriter and guitarist who writes about threats to free speech in his music, will also perform.
"It's quite an honor to have all these high-level people here," Newberry said.
After the program, a liberty tree will be planted near Bachelor Hall. According to Newberry, this symbol is important to the program because liberty trees come from the Colonial era, when elms were planted in each colony to mark an unnoticeable spot for political leaders to meet.
Prior to the event, student exhibits from Newberry's Journalism 312 Public Affairs Reporting class will be displayed, each detailing a different aspect of the First Amendment.
According to senior Braden Lammers, most of the class did research on specific cases tied to journalists protecting their sources. Lammers interviewed Paulson about the program and the First Amendment.
"I got more understanding for the passion that someone can have who's been in the business for so long," Lammers said of Paulson.
The interview, along with the other topics researched by the class and general information on the program at Miami, can be found at www.mulibertytree.com.
"A little more education for everyone is the main purpose of the Liberty Tree Initiative," Lammers said.
The program has been organized by Newberry and journalism students with the help of the Miami and Cincinnati chapters of the Society of Professional Journalists. The event is sponsored by the College of Arts and Sciences John W. Altman Humanities Scholar-In-Residence Program.
