The First Amendment and Community Journalism

In an age of fake news and alternative facts, it has become more important than ever for journalists to use the power of the First Amendment to expose lies, shed light on injustices and give a voice to the downtrodden. Institutions such as the New York Times and the Washington Post are leading the charge at the national level, but community media outlets across the country have important stories to tell as well. Special projects editor Glenn Smith will discuss how The Post and Courier in Charleston, South Carolina, has made a difference with watchdog journalism that includes a Pulitzer Prize-winning series that sparked widespread domestic reforms in the nation’s deadliest state for women. First Amendment Days