As journalists, we try not to wade into political waters beyond observing and reporting. However, when we are talking about safeguarding journalism and protecting journalists from governmental interference, we must speak while we can. St. Louis Society of Professional Journalists has chosen to co-sign the letter coordinated among more than 120 First Amendment, journalism and…
Farewell First Amendment, hello pizza!
Monday was the 12th annual First Amendment Free* Food Festival at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville. As in previous years, students had to sign away their First Amendment rights in order to receive free pizza and soda on the patio outside Dunham Hall. Once they do, they get a little reminder of what life is like…
SPJ: How journalists can support the PRESS Act
Journalists’ ability to keep their sources confidential and information secure is vital to newsgathering and the public’s access to information. Because there is currently no federal reporter’s shield law, journalists are vulnerable to demands for their sources and newsgathering materials in federal court. The government can force phone and email providers to out journalists’ confidential…
Roaring success for demolishing the First Amendment!
The 10th annual First Amendment Free* Food Festival enjoyed sunny skies and lots of people willing to give up free speech for free pizza on Monday. Organizer Tammy Merrett confirmed that The Kingdom of the Socialist States of the People’s Republic of Mass Communica ran out of pizza at a record-early hour and 15 minutes,…
You weren’t using those First Amendment rights, were you?
Monday kicked off Mass Comm Week at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville with the First Amendment Free* Food Festival, co-sponsored by St. Louis SPJ with The Alestle, which is SIUE’s campus newspaper. During the fest, people are offered the chance to temporarily sign away their First Amendment rights to get free pizza and soda. We all…
St. Louis Press Club, SPJ president support our call for Parson to apologize
Press Club: Governor’s threats endanger freedom of the press “Freedom of the press and reliable reporting are now, more than ever, critically important. If Missouri is truly the Show-Me State that cares about honest, in-depth reporting, show the Post-Dispatch the respect it deserves for presenting the facts to uphold the integrity of the state’s educational…
St. Louis SPJ condemns Gov. Parson’s attack on journalists
To threaten journalists for doing their jobs is the very definition of governmental overreach. Today Gov. Mike Parson announced that he intends to prosecute the reporters of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch for uncovering a potentially disastrous security flaw in the state’s web infrastructure. This gesture goes beyond mere overreach, to create a chilling effect discouraging…