The Freedom Forum, a free speech organization based in Washington D.C. and Nashville, has released its annual First Amendment survey. Among the findings:
“• Nearly 80% of respondents agreed that broadcasters should be allowed to televise the proceedings of the U.S. Supreme Court, though less than half agreed that broadcasters should be able to televise any courtroom trial they wish.
• 75% said that as part of a classroom discussion, public school students should be allowed to express views that others might find offensive, but just 27% agreed that students should be allowed to wear T-shirts with messages or pictures that might offend others.
• 64% endorsed increasing fines to as much as $500,000 for over-the-airwaves broadcasters “who violate government rules” regarding content on broadcast television, But 60% opposed extending government authority to regulate content on broadcast television to programs on cable or satellite television systems.
• 63% disagreed that the “government should be allowed to access records of materials borrowed by public library patrons,” while 77% said library patrons should be told when the government asks for records of what they have borrowed from the library. On June 15, the House of Representatives weighed in, voting 238-187 to block the part of the Patriot Act that applies to library and bookstore records, though not to online searches.
• 23% of Americans said “the First Amendment goes too far in the rights it guarantees,” compared to 49% in 2002 (the first survey done after the 9/11 attacks) and down from 30% in 2004.”
See the release and download the survey. Comm Law students will eventually need to read it.