Blog #3 - Eight Values of Free Expression

    I think everyone wants to make some sort of difference in the world. Without a doubt, I want to make a difference and I know exactly how I want to do that. As a journalism major, I have been able to learn how to tell an informative and engaging story that is not only unbiased, but includes multiple perspectives. Over the last few weeks, our class has studied the Eight Values of Free Expression - marketplace of ideas, participation in self-government, stable change, individual self fulfillment, check on governmental power, promote tolerance, promote innovation, and protect dissent. While all of them are incredibly important to the overall welfare of the American people, I have found two of them to be the most influential to me. 

    The first is the Check on Governmental Power, also known as the Watchdog Role. This speech theory by Vince Blasi defines the importance of the press in terms of checks and balances with the government. As a journalist, I have learned the history of muckraking in America. My favorite example of this type of journalism was Upton Sinclair's The Jungle. This piece exposed the horrible conditions of the meat packing industry in the early 1900's and led to the creation of new federal food safety laws. While this example is not directly political, it does show the power and impact that the press has on the decisions of the country.

    The second Value of Free Expression that is important to me is Individual Self-Fulfillment. This is also known as Self-Actualization and I believe it is the central idea of what most Americans mean when they talk about "freedom." Individual Self-Fulfillment allows for citizens to express themselves in any which way they would like. While on a negative side this can lead to hate speech and hate crime, ultimately, Individual Self-Fulfillment is meant to allow each person to have a special identity and find happiness from that. This use of free speech is seen 24/7 throughout the United States. Especially in the latest presidential election, I watched as every individual was allowed to proudly speak about their opinions.

    Both Check on Governmental Power and Individual Self-Fulfillment are important in allowing citizens to feel listened to and involved in their government. Without either of these values of free expression, our country would look something like George Orwell's dystopia in 1984. I personally have indulged in both of these values of free expression. I enjoy having the freedom to be and say whoever and whatever I want. Also, my hope as a journalist is to be able to change the world with my work. While I may not be taking down the entire country's meat packing industry, I know that with the use of free speech and a check on governmental power, I have the ability to make a difference that is bigger than me.

Blog #4 - The First Amendment and the Eight Values of Free Expression

    The last few years have been incredibly defining in the way we perceive the First Amendment. In its primary form, the First Amendment states that, “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.” These rights are called negative rights, meaning that the government cannot take away these rights from an individual. However, it is important to know that these six freedoms are not protected under private sectors.

    Not only are these rights unprotected in private organizations, but they can also lack specifications that allow for certain "loopholes" in our judicial system. This is incredibly relevant in the recent case of Frasier v. Evans where the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit ruled against whether individuals have a First Amendment right to record on-duty police officers. For some background knowledge, in 2014 Mr. Frasier had filmed a police officer who he felt was using excessive force on a suspect. After the officer forcefully questioned Frasier and even tried to take his tablet in an attempt to delete the video, Frasier went to court hoping to sue the officer for infringement on his First Amendment rights.

    What Frasier did not know was that at the time of the alleged First Amendment infringement, there was no statement that mentioned the right to record police officers in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit. Therefore, the court ruled under qualified immunity, which meant that because there was no law at the time of the crime, the police officers involved would not be punished.     

    Personally, I find this "loophole" incredibly problematic. Not only does it knowingly infringe upon the First Amendment rights, but it also disregards the fifth value of free expression, Check on Governmental Power. Luckily, in many other Circuits, the right to record first responders has been recognized, but I find it sad that the Tenth Circuit still has not acted appropriately regarding this issue.

Blog #2 - U.S. Supreme Court

One of the most surprising things about me is that I am a journalism major who does not enjoy politics. For as long as I have known, politics have seemed like too much drama for me to be interested in. That being said, I fully understand the importance in knowing about our government. Especially as a journalist, knowing my rights and the laws that involve the people around me is something that I have learned to take very seriously. Something I have not done a lot of researching in, however, is the Supreme Court.

    Before reading the History article, all I knew about the Supreme Court was that it was made up of nine judges and that it dealt with very high-up/important cases. Now that I have done some more research into SCOTUS, my understanding and view of it has changed quite a bit. I now know that the "high-up" cases are actually cases that determine the constitutionality of a certain event or action. I also learned about the long and difficult history that the court has had. From poor transportation to meetings, to the changing of the number of judges, I found the fact that SCOTUS was not always the "put-together" group that they are now to be one of the most surprising and interesting things I have learned.

    While my view of the Supreme Court hasn't necessarily gotten better or worse, I can say that it has made me want to learn more about our government. One moment in the video that caught my attention was when the Justices were sitting around the table and all agreed that many citizens believe the myth that the Supreme Court has inner secrets. I thought this was very interesting because unfortunately I was one of those people who thought that. I am positive that there are more people like me who do not know enough about our government and for that reason I would recommend anyone to read the History article or either of the sites linked below.

Three Branches of Government

Government for Dummies