1 JO807 © J.T.Johnson 1999/2000 _________________________Fall 2000 JO807:Advanced Journalism Research Taking the 1st ( Amendment)

2 JO807 © J.T.Johnson 1999/2000 _________________________Fall 2000 The Mother-of-All quizzes How many freedoms are in the First Amendment? 5.

3 JO807 © J.T.Johnson 1999/2000 _________________________Fall 2000 The quiz What are they? Freedom of religion Freedom of speech Freedom of press Right to petition the government for redress of grievances Right to assemble

4 JO807 © J.T.Johnson 1999/2000 _________________________Fall 2000 The 1st Amendment to the U. S. Constitution 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. — The First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution

5 JO807 © J.T.Johnson 1999/2000 _________________________Fall 2000 Connect to Freedom Forum /questionnaire.asphttp:// 99/questionnaire.asp

6 JO807 © J.T.Johnson 1999/2000 _________________________Fall 2000 Current cases Federal judge orders religious codes out of Kentucky schools, courthousesFederal judge orders religious codes out of Kentucky schools, courthouses California high school suspends 11 students for underground newspaperCalifornia high school suspends 11 students for underground newspaper Little-known presidential candidate defends stroll in racy costumeLittle-known presidential candidate defends stroll in racy costume KKK threatens to sue Alabama town after officials deny parade permitKKK threatens to sue Alabama town after officials deny parade permit

7 JO807 © J.T.Johnson 1999/2000 _________________________Fall 2000 Current cases? Freedom Forum “1 st Amend.” Forum “1 st Amend.” Freedom Forum “Free Press” Forum “Free Press” Freedom Forum “Free Speech” Forum “Free Speech” Freedom Forum “Religion” Forum “Religion” Freedom Forum “Assembly” Forum “Assembly”

8 JO807 © J.T.Johnson 1999/2000 _________________________Fall 2000 Survey of Americans…. Based on your own feelings about the First Amendment, please tell me whether you agree or disagree with the following statement: “The First Amendment goes too far in the rights it guarantees.” 16% Strongly agree 12% Mildly agree 22% Mildly disagree 45% Strongly disagree 5% DK/Ref

9 JO807 © J.T.Johnson 1999/2000 _________________________Fall 2000 Survey of Americans… Even though the U.S. Constitution guarantees freedom of the press, government has placed some restrictions on it. Overall, do you think the press in America has too much freedom to do what it wants, too little freedom to do what it wants, or is the amount of freedom the press has about right? Class S’00 Too much freedom Too little freedom About right DK/Ref %53% 9% 7% 50% 37% 3%2%

10 JO807 © J.T.Johnson 1999/2000 _________________________Fall 2000 Do you think the press in America has too much freedom to do what it wants, too little freedom to do what it wants, or is the amount of freedom the press has about right?

11 JO807 © J.T.Johnson 1999/2000 _________________________Fall 2000 Do you think the press in America has too much freedom to do what it wants, too little freedom to do what it wants, or is the amount of freedom the press has about right? %53% 9%7% 50%37% 3%2%

12 JO807 © J.T.Johnson 1999/2000 _________________________Fall 2000 Should newspapers be allowed to publish freely without government approval of a story?

13 JO807 © J.T.Johnson 1999/2000 _________________________Fall 2000 Should newspapers be allowed to publish freely without government approval of a story? % 68%

14 JO807 © J.T.Johnson 1999/2000 _________________________Fall 2000 Should a group be allowed to hold a rally for a cause or issue even if it may be offensive to others in the community? Class %Public A.Should be allowed64 % B.Should not be allowed36 % C.Don’t know

15 JO807 © J.T.Johnson 1999/2000 _________________________Fall 2000 Should musicians be allowed to sing songs with words that others might find offensive? Class %Public A.Should be allowed59 % B.Should not be allowed41 % C.Don’t know

16 JO807 © J.T.Johnson 1999/2000 _________________________Fall 2000 Should people be allowed to display in a public place art that has content that might be offensive to others? Class %Public A.Should be allowed43 % B.Should not be allowed57 % C.Don’t know

17 JO807 © J.T.Johnson 1999/2000 _________________________Fall 2000 Should people be allowed to use words in public that might be offensive to racial groups? Class %Public A.Should be allowed22 % B.Should not be allowed78 % C.Don’t know

18 JO807 © J.T.Johnson 1999/2000 _________________________Fall 2000 Musicians should be allowed to sing songs with words that others might find offensive %27%Strongly agree 28%29%Mildly agree 16%15%Mildly disagree 31%26%Strongly disagree 3%4%DK/REF

19 JO807 © J.T.Johnson 1999/2000 _________________________Fall 2000 People should be allowed to place sexually explicit material on the Internet % Strongly agree 15%14%Mildly agree 10%12% Mildly disagree 62%63%Strongly disagree 3%1%DK/Ref

20 JO807 © J.T.Johnson 1999/2000 _________________________Fall 2000 People should be allowed to burn or deface the American flag as a political statement % Strongly agree 10% Mildly agree 8%6%Mildly disagree 70%74%Strongly disagree 2%1%DK/Ref

21 JO807 © J.T.Johnson 1999/2000 _________________________Fall 2000 Citizens’ Right-to-Know Freedom-of-Information Act (FOIA) sites Dept. of Justice (DOJ) FOIA Reference Guide of Justice (DOJ) FOIA Reference Guide Reporter’s Committee for the Freedom of the Press Committee for the Freedom of the Press THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION CLEARINGHOUSE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION CLEARINGHOUSE ACLU - USING THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT - USING THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT

22 JO807 © J.T.Johnson 1999/2000 _________________________Fall 2000 Presumptions related to a citizen’s right to government data/information: It is The People’s data We happen to be journalists, but that’s not the issue: we are simply exercising our rights as a citizen to have access to The People’s data “May I please have The People’s data in digital form? Thank you.”