The Current Sauce

Issue date: 3/5/08 Section: News

Media Credit: Michael Silver Law Expert Mark Goodman

Mark Goodman, the Knight Professor of Scholastic Journalism at Kent State University, recently spoke at NSU on issues concerning journalism and First Amendment rights.

Goodman originally came to the NSU campus as a guest speaker for the 70th Annual Conference of Louisiana Colleges and Universities, which was held Tuesday.

While at NSU, however, Goodman said he wanted to take the opportunity to share his ideas with NSU students. As a result, Goodman spoke twice to NSU students Monday in the Ora G. Williams Television Studio in Kyser Hall.

Goodman first lectured two journalism classes, and then later that day was the keynote speaker at the Spring Newsmakers and Shakers Forum.

Mary Brocato, Associate Professor of Journalism said that because Goodman is "considered one of the top authorities in the country concerning student press," the Department of Journalism was honored to have Goodman speak at the Newsmakers and Shakers Forum.

In order to illustrate the rights guaranteed by the First Amendment to student media, Goodman gave multiple examples of Supreme Court cases in which university administrators attempted to censor their student media organizations and how the administrators' actions were deemed unconstitutional by the Supreme Court.

In the forum, Goodman encouraged the NSU journalism students to be the "voice for the voiceless." He told the students that censorship was a problem in the past, but it is also being dealt with in our nation - and on our campus.

Goodman stated that his ideas also apply to every American citizen, not just those in the media industry. He told the audience that every citizen has "an incredible amount of power" through their voice, and that American citizens should take advantage of that power.

Jeffrey Sholar, a freshman journalism major, said he found Goodman to be "very informative" and that he learned many new facts dealing with his journalistic rights.

Goodman, who recently left the Student Press Law Center as the Executive Director, has been long been an advocate for both collegiate and high school student media.

Now as the Knight Professor of Scholastic Journalism at Kent State University, Goodman continues to work toward gaining national support for student media by meeting with school administrators across the nation. This spring, Goodman plans to visit other conventions and schools, including Iowa State University, in order to share his ideas.

Through his research and public advocacy, Goodman hopes to achieve his ultimate goal of living in a society that expresses a "greater respect and appreciation" toward their student media.

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