I’m writing a journalism textbook. David Baxley, who teaches mass media law at Francis Marion University in Florence, S.C., and Debora Rae Wenger, the assistant dean of journalism at Ole Miss, are contributors.
The chapter I’ve started writing first is titled “The Printing Press, the First Amendment and a Call for Responsible Journalism.” I ask the question, “Does the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution guarantee freedom of the press?” Exhaustively, it does not. To help my readers understand why the right to free speech is not absolute, I discuss several theories regarding First Amendment protection of speech. Knowing these theories is important because journalists are working atop the bedrock foundation of the First Amendment.
1. Which word is not in the First Amendment?
A. redress
B. abridging
C. regulated
D. peaceably
E. prohibiting
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2. dissenting (dih-SENT-ing)
A. prohibiting
B. the quality of disagreeing or differing in opinion or sentiment
C. the process of excluding
D. the process of including
E. bantering
Let’s see how you’re doing. The word that does not appear is regulated.
No. 2 is B. Justices Holmes and Brandeis espoused the free trade of ideas in their dissenting opinion in Abrams vs. United States (1919).
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3. citizenry (SIT-us-zuhn-ry)
A. Machiavellian
B. residents collectively
C. Citlaltepetl
D. a power to the people
E. a mandate to citizens
Are you curious about what I have for C? Here’s the way to pronounce that: “seat-law-TAY-pet-ul,” a stratovolcano, the highest mountain in Mexico and the third highest in North America. I couldn’t resist slipping that one in.
Another theory is the encouragement of an informed citizenry to insure wise self-government. I’ve included a model radio announcement to flesh out the theory: “An informed citizen is a good citizen. K-H-H-W News encourages you not only to listen to the news reported on our station, but also on the local television station’s newscasts, and what’s reported in The Sun City Sentinel. News is important and K-H-H-W wants you to know it.” No. 3 is B.
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4. ad hoc [ADD hock]
A. verbally attacking a person
B. for a special purpose or need, especially an immediate need
C. false advertising
D. an error in news reporting
Another general approach to understanding First Amendment protection of free speech and press is the ad hoc balancing of interests. No. 4 is B.
Editor’s Note: Dr. Don Rodney Vaughan is the pastor of Mt. Vernon Baptist Church near Eupora and is on the faculty of East Mississippi Community College, Golden Triangle Campus. Contact him at dvaughan@eastms.edu.
