New York Newspapers Foundation educates about censorship and the freedoms of the First Amendment

Mary Miller pictured with Lori Hylton, chair of the First Presbyterian Outreach and Mission committee. David Scott is not pictured as he co-presented virtually from a remote location.

ALBANY, N.Y. — The New York Newspapers Foundation works with community organizations to expand understanding of the importance of the First Amendment.

As concerns about censorship, book banning and attacks on the free press have grown in the past few years, it’s important to stay informed about First Amendment rights and civic engagement on behalf of freedom of speech.

Invited by the Outreach & Mission Committee of the First Presbyterian Church in Albany, the New York Newspapers Foundation’s Education Services Director, Mary Miller, co-presented “The First Amendment, Rights and Responsibilities” with David Scott, Esq., a JD professor with Stony Brook University, on Sunday, April 28.  

The pair’s presentation centered around questions about the foundations, limits and modern challenges of First Amendment freedoms, particularly of speech and press. They explored why the amendment was adopted, what rights it protects and how those rights apply in contemporary contexts such as public protests. They also examined legal boundaries on speech, including concepts like prior restraint, and highlighted a few landmark Supreme Court cases that define protections for journalists and limits on censorship and defamation.

The common thread in the program was the ongoing tension between government authority and constitutional rights in shaping public discourse and the essential role of a free press, including journalistic ethics and accountability.

While the News Media Literacy program of the New York Newspapers Foundation was initially established to focus on resources for K-12 education, the organization is increasingly asked to present to adult audiences on topics about our modern information landscape.

In an era of AI-driven content, identifying trustworthy news requires scrutinizing sources for verification, distinguishing factual reporting from commentary, and maintaining a critical mindset to avoid misinformation. These skills, combined with understanding the watchdog role of a free press protected by the First Amendment, are essential for navigating a digital media landscape increasingly crowded with artificial, manipulated or biased information.

For information about scheduling a workshop or accessing educational resources, visit the NYNPA NIE website at New York News Publishers Association: Newspaper In Education (NIE)   or contact mmiller@nynpa.com. Donations to support this work can be made online via PayPal.

About the New York Newspapers Foundation:

The New York Newspapers Foundation carries out educational activities in association with the New York News Publishers Association. NYNPA is a nonprofit trade organization representing daily, weekly, and Sunday newspapers across New York state. The association promotes excellence in journalism and supports the public’s right to know through advocacy, training and educational programs.

The New York Newspapers Foundation is a non-profit organization that received its certificate of tax exemption under section 501(c)3 of the Internal Revenue Code, and was incorporated under the state’s not-for-profit corporation law. The purpose of the Foundation is to encourage the advancement of freedom of speech and the press, study scientific research in all related fields, promote education, and to assist those involved in all endeavors relating to the dissemination of information.