Author: Gene Policinski
What words make up a ‘true threat?’ Well, that depends
The First Amendment’s protection for free speech covers most of what we may say, whether it’s impolite, insulting, biased or uplifting, even commentary or forcefully expressed opinions that most of us would find repulsive or repugnant.
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‘Be nice’ is not needed during crisis — but a free press is
The concept of a free press as provided for and protected by the nation’s founders was that of a robust set of independent critics, working to hold government accountable on behalf of a public and of particular value to voters.
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COVID-19: Getting good information as virus crisis unfolds
In times of crisis, from natural disasters to 9/11 and more, a free press has consistently delivered the goods, saving lives and asking the necessary and often inevitable challenging questions of the public officials on whom we depend for safety and security.
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Google v. Oracle: Tech battle ultimately about free speech
Current Supreme Court case between Google and Oracle could limit our ability to communicate with each other, dampening the web’s potential for increasing public engagement in debate and decision on matters that affect us all.
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Focus on when the First Amendment protects – and doesn’t
Online platforms and social media sites are free to set their own practices and rules on what we do see or post, but a proposed Arizona House bill ” related to access to online content” could change that.
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‘Getting It Right’ — on Kobe Bryant and Everything Else
“Getting it right” is one reliable defense for a free press in today’s media world against critics who often base objections and critiques more on political differences than factual error.
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2020: The year to support, defend – and trust – our free press
In 2020, in order to defend and support that core freedom, we will need to confront in real ways the storm of disinformation, news manipulation and dwindling ranks of journalism that’s been building for nearly a decade.
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We’re divided in new ways over our core First Amendment freedoms
Recap the controversial and multi-faceted First Amendment issues of 2019, from a Black Lives Matter activist lawsuit, the Ukraine-Biden investigation controversy, regulatory threats over political advertising and beyond.
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No apology needed for good journalism – even when you don’t like it
Harvard’s student government voted to support a petition condemning their student newspaper, for the factual reporting of protests against U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement some weeks ago.
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From NBA to Trump to our ears and eyes, how free speech works
Other nations may have rules or laws that in some fashion say they protect or really do protect freedom of speech, but none has quite the same strong constitutional protection that we have in the U.S.
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