The First Amendment Is for Everyone
Only one profession is named in the United States Constitution. That profession, which is also protected by the Constitution, is the press.
“Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.”?
Today, press freedom is under attack around the world.
In 2024 World Press Freedom Index from Reporters Without Borders (RSF) , the United States ranks 55th out of 188 countries in the world. That puts the U.S. in "problematic" territory. It's better than many other countries in a "difficult situation" or a "very serious situation." But it's still not satisfactory or good.
"Press freedom around the world is being threatened by the very people who should be its guarantors – political authorities. … A growing number of governments and political authorities are not fulfilling their role as guarantors of the best possible environment for journalism and for the public's right to reliable, independent, and diverse news and information. RSF sees a worrying decline in support and respect for media autonomy and an increase in pressure from the state or other political actors. At the international level, this year is notable for a clear lack of political will on the part of the international community to enforce the principles of protection of journalists, especially UN Security Council Resolution 2222. The war in Gaza has been marked by a record number of violations against journalists and the media since October 2023. More than 100 Palestinian reporters have been killed by the Israel Defence Forces, including at least 22 in the course of their work. Occupied and under constant Israeli bombardment, Palestine is ranked 157th out of 180 countries and territories surveyed in the overall 2024 World Press Freedom Index, but it is ranked among the last 10 with regard to security for journalists."
World Press Freedom Day was May 3 and a reminder of the importance of remaining committed to press freedom throughout the world and defending the media from attacks on their independence.
"Since the Israel-Gaza war began, journalists have been paying the highest price—their lives—to defend our right to the truth. Each time a journalist dies or is injured, we lose a fragment of that truth," said Carlos Martínez de la Serna , the program director for the U.S.-based Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), in a statement. "Journalists are civilians who are protected by international humanitarian law in times of conflict. Those responsible for their deaths face dual trials: one under international law and another before history's unforgiving gaze."
A journalist's job is to report the facts and deliver accurate and unbiased coverage. We need to keep fearless, independent journalism available to everyone.
Some of the best journalism today is being done by college students as they report on the developments on university campuses and cover the protests of the Israel-Gaza war.?
Look at the Columbia Daily Spectator, the campus newspaper for 美国哥伦比亚大学 in New York City, which has become a main source of information about student protests. Spectator editor-in-chief Isabella Ramírez , age 20, and managing editor Esha Karam , 21, have led the reporting, and the newspaper has not hesitated to criticize the university's leadership.
Here's a sampling of their work.
Columbia is not the only place where students are producing stellar journalism. It is happening at student publications from coast to coast. See:
? The Daily Trojan at 美国南加州大学
? The Daily Bruin at 美国加州大学洛杉矶分校 ?
? The Daily Texan at the 美国德克萨斯大学奥斯汀分校
? The Lantern at 美国俄亥俄州立大学
? The GW Hatchet at 美国乔治·华盛顿大学
And many more student-run newspapers.
Student journalists understand the historical importance of this story and are meeting the moment as on-the-ground eyes, ears, and watchdogs for the public. While American confidence in major media has plummeted, student media is earning the trust of citizens and delivering a master class in defense of the First Amendment.
Ken Paulson is the director of the Free Speech Center at Middle Tennessee State University (MTSU) and offers a refresher on the First Amendment.
America is not perfect. But the First Amendment is pretty close. That's good news for anyone who wants to create equitable and positive change in the country.
Today, the U.S. is not working for a lot of people. That can change. Journalism, buttressed by the First Amendment, can be a vehicle for that change by better reflecting our country's diversity and making sure we serve every community.
Youth journalists across America, led by college students, know why the First Amendment is important to journalists. They understand that a free press is critical to a free society. They are upholding the ideals of the First Amendment, freedom of the press, journalism, and the Fourth Estate, a core principle of democracy. And they have been for a while.
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"The First Amendment right of free speech is now more important than ever for the journalism industry as we navigate a new era of what it means to be a journalist," wrote Taylor Ramirez for the Fourth Estate, George Mason's student newspaper, in 2022.?
Ramirez added:
"The rise of social media platforms has changed how we share and consume news, often allowing regular citizens to break big stories simply with the click of a button. Social media is also not bound by the same rules as traditional journalism. The internet is saturated with 'fake news,' violent rhetoric, 'alternative facts' and information spread without any corroborated sources.?
"This change has slightly blurred the lines of what it means to be a real journalist and begs two important questions: What is real journalism? And, how can we filter through the noise while still preserving freedom of speech?
"Although the answers to these questions are not yet completely clear, it is obvious that the first step must be a commitment. Yes, many people see the industry decaying and trust declining. However, it has never been more important, for young people especially, to consume the news and trust journalists.?
"The freedom of the press, protected by the First Amendment, is imperative in a democratic government that works for its people. In order to prevent the patterns of declining democracy we have seen recently, we must find confidence in journalists again.?
True journalism is characterized by truth, accuracy, independence, transparency, accountability and of course, the freedom of speech. And now more than ever, we must remember and respect those who devote their time and energy to it."
These "kids" are wise beyond their years. They understand journalism is evolving, and they are part of the evolution. The fundamental principles of good journalism will not change. Reporting the facts, delivering accurate and unbiased information, and being credible and trusted will never go out of style. But the newsrooms of the future will look different than the newsrooms of the past.
This week, George Mason's Fourth Estate editor-in-chief Erica Munisar wrote an open letter to the school community that showed the kind of journalistic transparency and accountability that would benefit any news organization.?
STUDENT PRESS LAW CENTER CONFIRMS NO HARASSMENT TOOK PLACE FROM FOURTH ESTATE STAFF
SPLC clears staff of allegations and explains rights within public sessions.
In light of recent world events, Fourth Estate has decided to pursue coverage of all topics on campus including recent developments in Israel and Palestine.
Following our coverage, Fourth Estate staff have endured extensive reactions both online, in-person, outside of the writer’s works and into the personal lives of the staff throughout the semester. Allegations were additionally made against the staff pertaining to their actions in reporting and gathering information.?
Shortly after allegations were launched, a meeting was held with Mike Hiestand, Senior Legal Counsel for the Student Press Law Center.
After reviewing the actions from staff during interviews held on March 14 and recent publications, Hiestand confirmed that no instances of “harassment” or “doxxing” have taken place from Fourth Estate staff, and that the staff have performed within their rights as reporters.
Hiestand additionally reflected that within a public session, reporters reserve the right to ask questions and utilize all information revealed within the session. This includes Student Government meetings.
"Those who voluntarily offer comments during a public session of the Student Senate, SGA Cabinet and the Board of Visitors have no ‘reasonable expectation of privacy’ — and thus no legal protection — that their names and comments won’t be publicly reported," Hiestand said.
Fourth Estate commits to practicing fair and accurate journalism standards. All publications are subject to diligent copy editing and review for bias before publishing. Interviews are verified and accurately quoted from recorded conversations.
Fourth Estate continues to commit to reporting the facts in all situations on campus.
Such reporting may include when and where protests occur, quotes from protestors, chants made, content from published statements, personal testimonies, verification of claims and information volunteered within public sessions. Fourth Estate does not endorse any one view as a newspaper, and reporting of said information is not a reflection of an endorsement.
All organizations and parties have been, and are always invited to share their stories and perspectives to showcase the depth of the student body and occurrences at Mason.
During their tenure, each Editor-in-Chief reserves the right to decide the editorial direction of the newspaper, what coverage is made and all executive decisions.
Editor-in-Chief Erica Munisar oversees the finalization of all articles and approves the posting of each publication. Munisar takes full responsibility for all coverage and executive decisions made within the 2023-2024 academic year.
The Mason community is encouraged to provide feedback to Fourth Estate. Members of the community may send Letters to The Editor, inquiries and general questions to [email protected].
Signed,
Erica Munisar
2023-2024 Editor-in-Chief
Freedom of religion. Freedom of expression. Freedom of assembly. Freedom of petition. Freedom of press.
The First Amendment remains a powerful tool to hold power to account. Changes in communications technologies present challenges to the First Amendment, as Columbia law professor Tim Wu wrote in a thought-provoking 2017 essay entitled, "Is the First Amendment Obsolete?"?
But as long as people are "reasonably educated, thoughtful, responsible, and intelligent," the First Amendment will never be obsolete, Geoffrey Stone, a professor of law at the 美国芝加哥大学 , wrote in a response to Wu's essay.
Journalism can help keep people informed, educated, thoughtful, responsible, and intelligent. That will require more investment in underserved communities, more access to journalism opportunities, and more trusted local news and information sources. So the news and information being served meets the needs of the community.??
While there are no guarantees, college students are providing hope that the future of journalism is strong. Youth are proving that the First Amendment is alive and well.
"In my news reporting classes at California State University, Fresno, we have spent the semester exploring the five freedoms enshrined in the First Amendment," explained Jim Boren , a faculty member at Fresno State and the director of the Institute for Media and Public Trust. "I ask them to identify various freedoms being used by subjects in news stories. While discussing Wednesday's sit-in by Palestinian students at Fresno State, my students were keenly aware that protesters were using their right to free speech and right to peaceably assembly. My heart is full!"
When used in productive ways, First Amendment actions can yield positive results. Like the song says, "Children are our future, teach them well, and let them lead the way."
Youth have a powerful voice. We should listen to them.