Raising the bar — from awareness to action on the First Amendment

Fresh off Sunshine Week, the Institute for Media and Public Trust will hold a free workshop on educating Fresno State students about the freedoms guaranteed by the First Amendment. Media, Communication and Journalism students will unveil their campaign from noon to 2 p.m. on March 26 in Education 140.

More than 60 students will present case studies about propaganda and stereotypes, plus roll out a new public relations plan using the First Amendment as a client. The students are from Dr. Nancy Van Leuven’s public relations writing class and her PR fundamentals class.

The goal of the 1 for All project is to start discussions on the importance of the First Amendment and its role in public relations and related fields. “This all ties back to the crucial role of the First Amendment in our society,” said Dr. Van Leuven.

Jim Boren, the Media Institute’s executive director, said the student’s work builds on the Institute’s community programs about understanding and supporting the freedoms guaranteed by the First Amendment. The Institute’s mission includes promoting media literacy, identifying strategies to fight fake news and finding solutions to the trust gap between media outlets and news consumers. 

“We encourage you to attend and hear more than 60 students present case studies about propaganda and stereotypes,” Boren said. “In addition, they will roll out a new public relations plan using the First Amendment as a client. This is a different look at the First Amendment.”

The event is made possible with funding from 1 for All, a national, nonpartisan program for the First Amendment freedoms of religion, speech, press, assembly and petition, and the Free Speech Center at Middle Tennessee State University.