First Amendment Congress essay contest for high school students

Oklahoma high school students can win up to $300 in the 2012 Zach Taylor First Amendment Congress Essay Contest.
 
This year's theme: In your opinion, what is the greatest threat to First Amendment freedoms in this day and age?
 
Students are encouraged to do factual research on the topic, but to write creatively and personally, rather than to write a report.
 
Essays should be about 500 words, typed and double-spaced. Grammar and spelling will be considered.
 
Entries must be received by 5 p.m., Oct. 11. Email entries to Dr. Vickie Williams at ccosabulk@gmail.com. Click here for more details.
 
First prize is $300. Second- and third-place winners will receive $200 and $100, respectively.
 
Winners will be recognized at FOI Oklahoma's 14th annual First Amendment Congress on Oct. 31 at the University of Central Oklahoma.
 
Among the speakers will be Adam Goldstein, attorney advocate for the Student Press Law Center. He will discuss current First Amendment issues for high school students and teachers.
 
The registration deadline is Oct. 25. Click here for details.
 

FOI Oklahoma Inc. seeks nominees for the Justice Marian Opala First Amendment Award

FOI Oklahoma Inc. is seeking nominees through Oct. 16 for the Justice Marian Opala First Amendment Award.

The award recognizes an Oklahoman who has promoted education about or protection of the individual rights guaranteed by the First Amendment, which include freedom of religion, speech, press, peaceful assembly, and the right to petition the government for redress of grievances.

Previous recipients include civil rights leader Clara Luper and state Attorney General Drew Edmondson.

Nominations for the award should include the nominee's name, address, brief biographical information and what the person has done to promote education about or protection of the individual rights guaranteed by the First Amendment.

Nominations may be sent to FOI Oklahoma Inc., P.O. Box 2408, Edmond, OK 73083, or e-mailed to kaybickham@sbcglobal.net.

This year’s recipient will be honored Oct. 29 during the 11th annual First Amendment Congress Professional Day session at The Oklahoman in Oklahoma City.

The award was initiated in 2002 to honor Justice Marian Opala, a Polish immigrant who exemplifies a belief in the rights guaranteed under the First Amendment. Opala was appointed to the state Supreme Court in 1978 and served as chief justice in 1991-92.

Opala, born in 1921, had just enrolled in law school when Nazi Germany invaded Poland in 1939. He enlisted in the Polish Army and later fought as a member of the Polish Resistance Movement. He was captured in 1944 and held in a concentration camp in Bavaria. When the camp was liberated in 1945, Opala was befriended by a 45th Infantry Division captain from Oklahoma City. Opala settled in Oklahoma City in 1947 and became a U.S. citizen in 1953.

Opala is well-known as a strong advocate of First Amendment rights. He attributes that commitment to his experiences in Nazi-occupied Poland.

FOI Oklahoma is a statewide organization founded in 1990 to educate the public and officials about rights guaranteed by the First Amendment and to actively support openness in government.


Joey Senat, Ph.D.
Associate Professor
OSU School of Journalism

First Amendment Congress / Essay Contest for High School & College Students

FOI Oklahoma's 11th Annual First Amendment Congress will be Oct. 28-29. Updates on the event will be on the FOI OK Web site. We're also conducting our annual First Amendment Essay Contest for high school and college students in conjunction with the congress. Below is information on the congress and the essay contest.

High School Day
Tom Steed Center, Rose State College
Wednesday, Oct. 28

Today’s generation has embraced a new way of communicating, and this new social media is transforming how we share information. Sessions for High School Day include:

• A debate between two Oklahoma high school teams on the impact of Internet News, Twitter, Facebook, Blogs, and other new media on traditional journalism.

• The First Amendment Rights of High School Students (Yes, you have them!)

• Smart Social Networking: You like to share your life online, but should you always hit send? The glory and the pitfalls of communicating in cyberspace.

The First Amendment Congress is ideal for students in social studies, journalism and government classes, and an excellent opportunity for student leaders, teachers and school administrators.

Professional / College Day (ALSO open to the General Public)
The Oklahoman Tower, 9000 N. Broadway
Thursday, Oct. 29

Our special guest for the day will be Marvin Kalb, award-winning journalist and moderator of The Kalb Report.

For more than 200 years, America has depended on its press—the Fourth Estate—to be the watchdog of government. The growth of Internet news sites, blogs, and other social media — coupled with the economic downturn — make it increasingly difficult for traditional news media to stay in business. For those that can hang on, many are cutting staff and are unable to fund the investigative journalism that has exposed wrong-doing in the past. Where is the press heading in this new environment?

We’ll explore the Fairness Doctrine, look at the business side of journalism, and discuss how we can make sure a watchdog role remains preeminent during this journalistic transition.

Professional Day features CLEs for Attorneys!

First Amendment Essay Contest
Oklahoma high school students and college undergraduates can win cash prizes by entering the 2009 First Amendment Congress Essay Contest, sponsored by FOI Oklahoma Inc. Entrants have until Oct. 2 to submit their essays.

For this year's essay, young writers are asked to consider the question: "What is the impact of Internet news, blogs, and social networking sites on the traditional role of the media as a watchdog of government activity?"

Entries should be about 500 words, typed, double-spaced, including the student's name, grade, school, mailing address, phone number and e-mail address. Entries must be e-mailed to The Oklahoman's News Research Editor, Linda Lynn, at LLynn@oklahoman.com.

Prizes will be awarded to the first-, second-, and third-place winners in both high school and college categories.

High School winners will be recognized on Oct. 28 during the First Amendment Congress Education Day at Tom Steed Center in Midwest City. College winners will be honored Oct. 29 during the event's Professional Day at The Oklahoman in Oklahoma City.

For questions concerning the essay contest, contact Linda Lynn at 405-475-3676. For information about the 2009 First Amendment Congress, contact Kay Bickham at 405-341-3169.


Joey Senat, Ph.D.
Associate Professor
OSU School of Journalism