J-Ideas announces fund-raising campaign

Warren Watson, director, announced today the creation of an annual fund-raising campaign to support J-Ideas, Ball State’s scholastic journalism and First Amendment institute.

Parties are invited to give $25 or more to the J-Ideas Foundation to support future activities of the program. Donations are tax deductible. <more>

FIRST VOICES



Little things mean a lot at the Newseum
Indianapolis Star column
by Warren Watson

J-Ideas Director Warren Watson blogs regularly for the Indianapolis Star. Here are his latest offerings:

Ignorance in Palin, Dowd free-speech remarks

The grace period is over from the November presidential election. Now, it's time to review the latest cases of ignorance about the First Amendment and how it fits into our lives. <more>

-Plainfield pays respect to First Amendment

-Banned Books Week

-Palin-tology

-New President must revive Constitution

-Traditional news misses Edwards escapade

-Protesters' rights fenced off

-Social networking pitfalls

-Bad year for traditional news gatherers

-Baseball and the First Amendment

-Principals and the First Amendment

-Remembering a crusader
-Photo ID law bad for voters
-Thoughts from the annual U.S. editors convention
-Need for print journalism remains
-Sunshine:now more than ever
-Mean-spirited fans
-Peter Jennings' legacy
-The First Amendment at the Alamo
-A New museum for news
-Author creates First Amendment 'primer'
-Unlikely First Amendment hero
-Harrison represented Hoosiers proudly
-Online course wraps for the fall
-Religious freedom for all
-Reading is FUN-damental
-Nothing negative
-Blogs grow in influence, but beware of anonymity
-Parent rides the bench after blog posting
-Student journalist's actions serves profession poorly
-Examining free speech online
-Remembering the courageous Elijah Parish Lovejoy

Archive

More First Thoughts: journalism teacher Tom Gayda speaks out

Student journalists scoop professional press

By Gerry Appel

In an era where student journalists are often criticized for poor decision-making, one student newspaper should receive praise after scooping its professional counterparts. <more>

-Principal wrong in pulling paper

Mile high with the First Amendment...

By Randy Swikle

We were north of the Mile High City near the Rocky Mountains. The principals were voluntarily descending—not from the tall peaks but from their position abutting the summit of school hierarchy. When they reached level ground, we could see each other more clearly. And clear sight leads to insight. <more > 

Warren Watson

First Thoughts for the Star

Oct. 25, 2008

Plainfield: Paying Respect to The First Amendment

Louis Inglehart would have been proud. A central Indiana high school will soon observe a weeklong celebration of the First Amendment.

You see, the late Inglehart, a mentor to so many of us involved in student journalism in Indiana, worked tirelessly at Ball State University to keep journalism and awareness of the First Amendment in plain sight. He knew that schools must strive to keep the bedrock of our Constitution from decaying from neglect.

Plainfield, you see, will honor the First Amendment schoolwide the week of Nov. 2. Each day, the school will focus on one of the five freedoms guaranteed under the First Amendment – speech, press, religion, assembly and petition. I will have an opportunity to take part in their kickoff day on Monday, the second.

Students, teachers and administrators came up with the idea of having a First Amendment week after attending a J-Ideas education session in Indianapolis back in early September. At the session, a Plainfield team learned about how First Amendment awareness has slipped in this country. They also learned that more teaching and more and better student media are sure-fire cures for that malady.

It was something Inglehart appreciated before he died in 2006. He would have wanted to be there on Nov. 2. He will – at least in spirit.