You are cordially invited to attend

“The Liberty Tree Initiative:
Celebrating the First Amendment”

Presented by The Journalism Program
Miami University, Oxford, Ohio


Monday, April 7, 4 to 5:30 p.m.
Shriver Center Heritage Room

In an age where regard for journalism and journalists is at a low point, the news media is facing a growing number of threats to press freedoms. In recent years, the government – at the administrative, legislative and judicial levels – has sought to control and punish newsgathering methods with investigations, subpoenas, lawsuits and imprisonment. The climate has inspired the media to respond – with coverage of the tactics, legislation to limit them and, now, a public campaign to remind citizens of their First Amendment rights and restore confidence in the media as upholders of those rights.

Miami University will present “The Liberty Tree Initiative: Celebrating the First Amendment” to explore these and other issues related to First Amendment rights.

Participants include:

• Ken Paulson, editor of USAToday and former executive director of the First Amendment Center, as “master of ceremonies
• Gene Policinski, executive director of the First Amendment Center.
• Sandra Chance, executive director of the Bechner Center for Freedom of Information, University of Florida.
• Mickey Johnson, editor, Richmond Palladium-Item.
• Richard Goehler, media attorney, Frost Brown Todd.
• Don Henry, Freedom Sings musician.

The event will also include:

• A Web site (www.mulibertytree.com) produced by students in a Miami Public Affairs Journalism class, outlining recent instances of journalism under fire and other topics related to the event.
• Student exhibits, related to their contributions to the Web site, for display at the event.
• A Liberty Tree, symbolizing support for a strong First Amendment, to be planted near Bachelor Hall, home of the Miami Journalism Program.

“The Liberty Tree Initiative: Celebrating the First Amendment” is funded by the College of Arts & Science’s John W. Altman Humanities Scholar-in-Residence Program with support of the Journalism Program, and the Miami and Cincinnati chapters of the Society of Professional Journalists.

For questions about the event, contact event chair Patricia Gallagher Newberry, lecturer in Miami’s Journalism Program, at newberpg@muohio.edu or 513.529.5893.