The state of the First Amendment is perpetually in flux and it’s walking on shaky ground going into 2019. Trump Administration tariffs on imported Canadian newsprint in 2018 kicked off a series of layoffs at publications, reduced printing frequencies and forced closure of several smaller publications. The U.S. International Trade Commission overturned the tariffs this [...]
Jim Acosta isn't the first and surely won't be the last reporter President Trump insults as a “rude, terrible person,” at a press conference, but this time the President's disdain for the media reached a new low. After a heated exchange, the White House pulled Acosta's press pass, claiming that he “put hands” on the [...]
The United States International Trade Commission (ITC) recently overturned the Trump administration’s decision to impose tariffs of up to 30 percent on Canadian newsprint. The President’s policy went into effect in early 2018. The ITC ruled that Canadian imports don't cause "material injury" to U.S. paper producers. There is potential that the ruling will be [...]
The new NFL rule on kneeling allows players to protest the national anthem… just not on the field. They can remain in the locker room for the song, but if players insist (per owners’ rules) on taking a knee during the national anthem, their team will be fined. On the surface this might seem like [...]
Last June the Supreme Court’s unanimous answer was NO. A band named “The Slants” was denied government trademarking because the name could be seen as demeaning to Asian Americans. They felt trademark denial based on their name violated their First Amendment right to freedom of speech. The Supreme Court ruled that viewpoint discrimination - even [...]
Under the Trump administration, hostility towards journalists and the media in America is at an all-time high. Up to this point, accusations of fake news and bias have mostly rolled off the backs of seasoned journalists, but these attacks have become physical with more serious implications. Violence has become an accepted response to questions about [...]
The IWPA is proud to announce the launch of a new concept. What is more important to communicators than our fundamental freedoms of speech and press? Do you have a story to tell? Have your First Amendment rights ever been infringed? Bring a friend for snacks, drinks, fun, and discussion so that we may all [...]
What do Neil Young, REM, and Survivor have in common? Yes, all of them have created memorable, anthemic songs in their respective careers. Relevant to the First Amendment, however, their music has been used without permission in political campaigns just this year. Neil Young called Donald Trump out on using Rocking in the Free World [...]
