KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — The media’s right to investigative reporting is the focus of a Freedom Forum First Amendment Lecture to be given here March 14.
Jane Kirtley, executive director of the Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press, will speak at 11:45 a.m. at the Downtown Hilton Hotel.
Her talk is part of the annual Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication Southeast Colloquium hosted March 13-15 by the University of Tennessee.
Kirtley’s lecture is titled “Crossing the Line: Should the First Amendment Protect News Gathering?” She will discuss issues raised by recent court decisions on investigative reporting, such as the recent $5.5 million ruling against ABC for trespassing and fraud in an investigative report on Food Lion.
Kirtley has spoken about media law issues on Nightline, Today, All Things Considered, Crossfire and other programs. She is columnist for American Journalism Review, a member of the Freedom of Information Hall of Fame and former reporter for the Oak Ridger and the Nashville Banner.
The Freedom Forum First Amendment Center and the UT-Knoxville College of Communications sponsor the lunch and lecture. Admission is $15.
The colloquium is funded by The Knoxville-News Sentinel and the UT-Knoxville Office of Research. It includes 122 research papers presented by journalism educators from across the region.
Registration for the entire conference, including Kirtley’s address, is $75.
The colloquium and the lecture are open to the public. To register for either event, mail a check by March 7, payable to the University of Tennessee, 426 Communications, Knoxville, Tenn., 37996-0347. For more information call Dr. Eric Haley, (423) 974-5102.
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Contact: Dr. Eric Haley (423-974-5102)