Kentucky First Amendment Center

[virginia...@gmail.com]

http://www.uky.edu/CommInfoStudies/JAT/fac/press.html

LEXINGTON, Ky. (Sept. 6, 2006) - A former Kentucky newspaper editor has
been appointed to lead the University of Kentucky School of Journalism
and Telecommunications' First Amendment Center. Mike Farrell,
assistant professor of journalism and former managing editor of The
Kentucky Post in Covington, replaces Roy Moore, professor of
journalism, who has retired from the university.

Beth Barnes, director of the UK School of Journalism and
Telecommunications, said Farrell is well-qualified to lead the center
because of his blend of professional experience and scholarly
interests.

"Mike fought to quash challenges to the First Amendment as a
newspaper editor. He studied the First Amendment and First Amendment
law as a graduate student, and is contributing to a textbook on media
law. He is passionate about the First Amendment, and will bring that
enthusiasm to his work directing the First Amendment Center."

Farrell said he believes the most important role of the center is to
help Kentuckians understand the importance of freedom of speech and of
the press and how easily these freedoms can be eroded when citizens
fail to guard them.

"The First Amendment was woven into the fabric of our Constitution so
that citizens could participate in their own government and so that the
press could serve as a check on the power of government," Farrell
said. "That is as important today as it was in 1789 when James
Madison began his effort to create the Bill of Rights."

The center's goals include working with civic literacy efforts to
ensure that students in Kentucky learn about the heritage of free
expression; promoting high school journalism; expanding public
understanding of and appreciation for freedom of the press; and
assisting efforts of the state's newspapers and broadcasters to
ensure that governments continue to operate in the sunshine of public
observance.

"I also think it is important that the students we prepare to work in
the journalism field leave our school understanding their rights under
the First Amendment and the responsibility to defend freedom of the
press and democracy," Farrell said.

The First Amendment Center was dedicated in 1989 under the auspices of
the Kentucky First Amendment Congress, which was led by Judy Clabes, a
UK graduate who was then editor of The Kentucky Post. It has received
major support from the Scripps Howard Foundation, where Clabes is now
the president and chief executive officer. The center, located in the
UK Grehan Journalism Building, houses a variety of First Amendment
resources.