donal brown

A federal district judge dismissed a First Amendment lawsuit against Charlottesville by a “Unite the Right” organizer who claimed the city shut down his event in 2017 after threats and violence. Jason Kessler had a permit to hold an assembly but was shut down on public safety grounds. Norman Moon ruled that it was not practical to expect police to single out violent protesters from others to allow the event to proceed. He also rejected

Tennessee lawmakers are considering two bills that would establish parental oversight boards for public libraries whose decisions on removing material would not be subject to appeal. The boards would focus on inappropriate sexual content. If librarians did not comply with board decisions, they would face misdemeanor charges and fines. (BookRiot, February 24, 2020, by Kelly Jensen) A Missouri bill also aimed at inappropriate sexual material for children would subject librarians out of compliance to jail

Washington Post columnist Margaret Sullivan, February 23, 2020, suggests that given President Donald Trump’s recent triumph in defeating checks and concentrating power, it is not enough for the media to fact check and call out lies and distortions. Given the stakes, Sullivan argues, the media must report the slide to autocratic government without euphemisms, with greater emphasis and urgency. To do less is to mislead the public into thinking there is another side to this,

With the Chicago Tribune facing hedge fund takeover and gutting of newsroom personnel, the Tribune’s former editor, Ann Marie Lipinski, in Crain’s Chicago Business, February 19, 2020, writes that were the Tribune to fold, it would be a great loss to democracy and civic and business interests. Radio and TV rely on the Tribune for sources of news. She called for novel solutions and more investment from local businesses and civic-minded owners. Journalism professor Victor