The Student Press Law Center (SPLC), which is celebrating its 25th year of defending the free press rights of the nation’s high school and college student media, will honor The Freedom Forum for its enduring and significant support of the SPLC and the nation’s student press. The recognition ceremony will be held at 4 p.m. on Thursday, March 18, at the Newseum/NY in New York City as part of the national College Press Convention sponsored by College Media Advisers and the Columbia Scholastic Press Association.
The Student Press Law Center will recognize The Freedom Forum for its leadership and efforts to defend the rights of student journalists by naming it a “Champion of the Student Press”. This award was created during the SPLC’s 20th anniversary year to recognize individuals for their courageous defense of the student press. This will be the first time that an organization will be recognized for its long-term, unswerving defense of the student press and the First Amendment rights of student journalists.
Also being recognized by College Media Advisers will be Freedom Forum executives Gerald Sass and Felix Gutierrez, who have devoted their energy to supporting the First Amendment rights of student journalists throughout their professional careers.
The Freedom Forum is a nonpartisan, international foundation dedicated to free press, free speech and free spirit. The Freedom Forum was established in 1991 under the direction of founder Allen H. Neuharth as successor to the Gannett Foundation, which was created by Frank E. Gannett in 1935.
The Student Press Law Center is a not-for-profit organization created in 1974 to provide free legal advice and assistance to high school and college journalists across the United States and to serve as an advocate for their free press and freedom of information rights. The Center assists over 1,500 student journalists each year.
For additional information about the convention and awards reception contact Lillian Lodge Kopenhaver, CMA Convention Chair, Associate Dean, School of Journalism and Mass Communication, Florida International University, North Campus, 3000 NE 151st St., North Miami, FL 33181; (305) 919-5625 or from March 16-19, at the New York Marriott Marquis Hotel, (212) 398-1900.