[x The Tennessean]
Saturday, 08/02/03
Support for 1st Amendment rising after 9/11
By LEON ALLIGOOD
Staff Writer
Americans recovering from fear after attacks
Two years after terrorists made America blink about personal freedoms secured by the First Amendment, Americans appear to be reconsidering the issue.
In a study issued yesterday by the First Amendment Center in collaboration with American Journalism Review magazine, Americans' support for their First Amendment freedoms are returning to pre-9/11 levels.
''While reaction to fear is largely reflexive, the passage of time allows us to be reflective,'' said Ken Paulson, executive director of the First Amendment Center in Nashville.
Among the key findings of this year's survey:
• About 60% of those surveyed indicated overall support for First Amendment freedoms. This is up from 47% in 2002. The support was 58% in 2001.
• A total of 48% of the respondents said they believe Americans have too little access to information about the federal government's efforts to combat terrorism, up from 40% in 2002.
• Almost 75% of those surveyed said people should be allowed to express unpopular opinions, the same level as 2001. Last year, 67% said people should have this right.
In addition, the survey asked about a variety of media issues.
• Almost 80% of respondents said media owners exert substantial influence over news organizations' newsgathering and reporting decisions.
• 65% favored the policy of ''embedding'' U.S. journalists into individual combat units and 68% judged the media's coverage in Iraq as excellent or good.
• 52% said media ownership by fewer corporations has meant a decreased number of viewpoints available to the public.
The Center for Survey Research and Analysis at the University of Connecticut conducts the national survey of 1,000 people. The survey, which has a sampling error of plus or minus 3.1 percentage points, was conducted from June 3 to June 15.
The survey is available on the First Amendment Center's Web site.
Leon Alligood covers Tennessee for The Tennessean. Contact him at 615-259-8279 or by e-mail at lalligood@tennessean.com.
© Copyright 2003 The Tennessean
Wednesday, August 06, 2003
Some Good News
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