A weblog for Pete Ellertsen's mass communications students at Benedictine University Springfield.

Monday, April 19, 2010

COMM 209: In class

In your own words, what does the First Amendment do? For journalists? For the rest of us?

Don't look it up. Post your thoughts as comments to this post.

14 comments:

Anonymous said...

It allows for common people and journalists alike to speak their minds without being prosecuted by the law or their place of work.

Andrew said...

For journalists it give them the freedom of the press and speech. They are allowed to write about any topic whether the content is ethical or not. For the rest of us it means that we have our own voice and can't be punished for our opinions. Holla!!!

Kyle K. said...

the first admendment protects our rights to speak our opinion. for journalist it gives them the ability to write a story without getting sued by someone who doesnt like it. for the rest of us it gives us the write to voice our opinions.

rachel said...

The first amendment is in our Bill of Rights and it prohibits a law or laws to be made that infringe on freedom of speech, press and assembly. Many Americans don't understand this amendment because government has not done the best at inforcing it. What the first amendment does do for us however is say we have freedom of speech, press, assembly, religion... but we obviously don't have full reign over these so-called rights.

Jared said...

The First Ammendment to the Constitution protects a journalists' right to believe what they want to believe and write what they want to write as long as it is truth. It also protects any person's right to speak freely and have their own thoughts and ideas as well as practice whatever religion they choose.

Tony P said...

its supposed to allow freedom of speech for everyone to in a sense, "speak what's on their mind--to an extent", beyond journalists, whether being put in to print or if said aloud.

Christina Ushman said...

The 1st Amendment gives people the freedom press, speech, religion, etc. This is what the Bill of Rights saids. This gives journalists or everyday people the freedom of speech. They can write or say what they want to say.

Cait131 said...

The First Amendment is the freedom of speech, freedom of the press, and the free exercise of religion. Also, assembly and petition. This amendment allows journalists to speak their minds. They don't have to think about what they are going to say and end up getting in trouble for it. They can write about anything they want to. They get to have their own personal opinions.

carolyn said...

its the expression of free speech and religion. Meaning you are able or supposed to be able to speak freely about how you feel without anything getting in the way. With this saying you are supposed to be able to excerise you thoughts and feelings wihtout being juged but really is that whats happening in todays society are people really expressing their thoughts freely? i think so but the question is are they sometimes being punished for what they say and is that fair according to the first am.

Quinton said...

The first amendment allows people the freedom to say whatever they want and for members of the press to write whatever they want as long as it does not infringe upon the rights of people

Tom said...

The First Amendment for journalists allows for the freedom of speech and press. journalists are allowed to write on what ever topic or issue he or she wants.
For the rest of us it allows american people to have the ability to speak their minds without being critisized by others or federal law

Tom said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
jaredw said...

The first amendment gives journalists the right to do their job. Being a journalist means saying what you want, as long as its true and you give credit where needed. The press is able to do their job by asking questions and doing stories on events and people. For us, the first amendment allows things to occur, such as protests and rallies. We are also able to follow our choice of religion, without being criticized.

@leya said...

the first amendment to journalist and anyone else allows people to speak whats on there mind to a certain extent... when writing something public you can bring up anything you want but one still has to be aware of there audience.

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About Me

Springfield (Ill.), United States
I'm a retired English, journalism and cultural studies teacher at Springfield College in Illinois (acquired by Benedictine University and subsequently closed). I coordinate jam sessions for the "Clayville Pioneer Academy of Music" at Clayville Historic Site and the Prairieland Strings dulcimer club, and I sing in the choir and the contemporary praise team at Peace Lutheran Church in Springfield. On Hogfiddle I post links and video clips for our sessions and workshops on the mountain dulcimer (a.k.a. "hog fiddle"), as well as research notes on folklore and cultural studies, hymnody and traditional Anglo-Celtic and Scandinavian music. I also posted assignments and readings in my interdisciplinary humanities classes. The Mackerel Wrapper (now on hiatus), carried assignments and readings for my mass comm. students. I started teaching b/log when I chaired SCI-Benedictine's assessment committee, and reopened it as the privatization of public schools grew increasingly troubling and closer to home.