2009 National Freedom of Speech Week Selected Activities and Events
Here is a sample of activities and events that several Partnering Organizations conducted in celebration of the 2009 National Freedom of Speech Week, Oct. 19-25, 2009.
Public Service Announcement Competition
Free Speech Winners: The National Association of Broadcasters Education Foundation (NABEF) hosted a luncheon in Washington on Oct. 15, 2009, to recognize the winners of its 2009 Freedom of Speech PSA Competition. |
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Stuart Mouritzen (center) of the University of Southern California receives first-place award in the radio PSA category. Presenting the award are NABEF President Marcellus Alexander (left), and Clark Bell (right), director of the journalism program of the McCormick Foundation in Chicago. |
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Chris Newell (center) of Biola University in La Mirada, Calif., takes home first-place award in the television PSA category. |
The National Association of Broadcasters Education Foundation (NABEF) and Broadcast Education Association (BEA), with financial support from the McCormick Tribune Foundation, sponsored a Public Service Announcement (PSA) Competition. The competition sought radio and television public service announcements created and produced by students to honor freedom of speech. The PSAs address the question “what freedom of speech means to me.”
Six scholarships were awarded in two categories: radio and television. In addition, the winning PSA entries were made available for radio and television stations nationwide to air during National Freedom of Speech Week and anytime thereafter.
Winners in the Television Category:
1st Place: Chris Newell, Biola University
2nd Place: Monique L. Pelletier, New England School of Communications
3rd Place: Michelle Wood, The Art Institute of Atlanta.
Winners in the Radio Category:
1st Place: Stuart Mouritzen, USC
2nd Place: Theresa Rozwadowski, Central Michigan University
3rd Place: Melodie Turori and Rob Croft, Biola University
Winners were honored at a luncheon in Washington, D.C., on Oct. 15, 2009. The winning PSAs can be seen and heard on the NABEF website here.
Panel Discussion on Hate Speech
At Arizona State University in Tempe, Ariz., the Cronkite School of Journalism held a panel discussion on the evening of Oct. 22 dealing with the topic of hate speech. National Freedom of Speech Week was mentioned prominently in all notices for the event at this new and important venue.
Exhibit at Children’s Museum
The Thomas Jefferson Center for the Protection of Free Expression conceived and sponsored a first-of-its-kind, interactive exhibit to help children learn, understand, and practice the right of free speech. Titled “Freedom of Expression,” the exhibit opened Sept. 19 at the Virginia Discovery Museum on the historic downtown mall in Charlottesville, Va. The two organizations promoted National Freedom of Speech week at the exhibit in October.
“Freedom of Expression” stresses two central themes: (1) a person can express an idea in many different ways when free to do so; and (2) freedom of expression encompasses not only the right to express oneself but also the right to hear, read, or see the expression of others.
The exhibit features multiple participatory learning “stations” that fill the museum’s entire Back Gallery. Included in the activity-oriented layout are features such as television and radio broadcasting studios, a mini-theater, a library reading room, and even a speaker’s soapbox on the public square. Activities focusing on freedom in music and the arts are also highlighted. “Freedom of Expression” will be on display through Jan. 10, 2010. More information can be found here.
Campus Activities
The National Communication Association (NCA) was an enthusiastic supporter of National Freedom of Speech Week on campuses nationwide. NCA comprises three student organizations for communications majors: Lambda Pi Eta, Sigma Chi Eta, and NCA Student Clubs. NCA reached out to its chapters and student members by lining up free speech experts, putting together free speech facts, organizing discussion boards on its Facebook page, and advertising the week through its communication channels.
NFSW Ad and Link on “AOL Search”
Promotional Partner America Online again ran a customized ad module for National Freedom of Speech Week that appeared when AOL users searched for words or phrases related to free speech. The module featured the NFSW logo, a short blurb, and a link to the NFSW website. America Online ran the module through the end of October.
Awards to Free Speech Leaders
The Media Institute presented its Freedom of Speech Award to U.S. Congressman Rick Boucher (D-Va.) for his support of federal shield-law legislation to protect reporters and their sources. The Institute also presented its American Horizon Award to Gary Shapiro, president and CEO of the Consumer Electronics Association, who is a strong supporter of digital free speech. The awards were presented at the Institute’s Friends & Benefactors Awards Banquet on Oct. 15 in Washington, D.C. The Institute holds the banquet annually in October to coincide with National Freedom of Speech Week.
