donal brown

A book banning case in Florida could bend the First Amendment to provide censors with a free speech shield. Nassau County school board is arguing that the First Amendment protects their right to ban books from the school library. One of the books in contention describes a true story of a same-sex penguin couple in a New York City zoo. (Tallahassee Democrat, July 24, 2024, by Douglas Soule of USA TODAY) For related FAC coverage,

Conservative groups are rallying in support of a lawsuit against a California school district who punished a first grader for drawing a picture with the words, “Black Lives mater [sic]…any life.” A brief contends, “[w]ithout robust First Amendment protections, students, teachers and administrators are compelled to think and speak in compliance with a prescribed orthodoxy on racial and social justice issues, lest they risk punishment, even termination.”  (California Policy Center, July 23, 2024) The case

Most Americans want information about local government and politics, and two-thirds say they often get news on local politics, notwithstanding that only a quarter say they are highly satisfied with the quality of the news. (Pew Research Center, July 24, 2024, by Luxuan Wang, Michael Lipka, Katerina Eva Matsa, Christopher St. Aubin and Elisa Shearer)

Jon Allsop in Columbia Journalism Review, July 15, 2024, reports that many at Trump’s rally blamed the press for the assassination attempt. Ultra conservative politicians and media figures also contended that saying Trump was a threat to democracy inspired the attempt. Oliver Darcy in CNN, July 14, 2024, writes that while liberal media figures expressed their regret for the attempt on Trump and sorrow that a man died and two others were critically injured, MAGA

Federal prosecutors are attacking journalist Trevor Aaronson and documentary journalism because Aaronsom is planning a report on the prosecution of a Michigan man for terrorism. Prosecutors are claiming documentaries aren’t legitimate journalism, rather powerful voices evoking emotions that leave out information and create an enduring impression. (Freedom of the Press Foundation, July 15, 2024, by Caitlin Vogus) For related FAC coverage, click here and here.