By Calvin Hall
Assistant Professor and Faculty Fellow
Department of Communication
Appalachian State University

Earlier this week, I was interviewed for one of those ubiquitous go-out-and-interview-an-instructor-or-other-media professional class assignments, and one of the questions the student asked me concerned my thoughts about the future of journalism. I was in “academic expert” mode, more effusive than reflective, and perhaps wanting leave the student – and future journalist – with a sense of hope, I told her that I thought the future was extremely bright.

But I was not being completely truthful. I am, in fact, a little worried about the future of journalism, especially after seeing some of the results of the recent Knight Foundation First Amendment studies.

The study presents some positive findings, to be sure. For instance, students are more engaged in learning about the First Amendment and supporting the rights of scholastic journalists than in previous studies. And I wonder whether this is because of or our current international situation, or in spite of it? Whatever the reason, it’s a positive development.

What’s disappointing is the fact that 45 percent of the students surveyed feel that the guarantees in the First Amendment go “too far.”  I am left wondering what students consider “too far”? Is it the part of the First Amendment that states, “Congress shall make no law respecting the establishment of religion...”? Or is it the part that states that Congress can't prohibit the free exercise of religion or abridge the freedom of speech, the press, assembly or petition?

There are more than a few examples in American history where going where others considered “too far” was needed to make a little progress toward social justice. For instance, the publication of Freedom’s Journal in 1827 – the first African American newspaper in the U.S. – originated from the desire of members from a marginalized group to have control of the presentation of their images in the press. Freedom’s Journal marked the beginning of the African American press in America as an outlet for those advocating civil rights.

There were those who thought the existence of this publication was going “too far.” But without the presence of Freedom’s Journal and its progeny, who knows how long an already-long struggle would have lasted?

An April 2006 report revealed that minority students were more likely than white students to feel that the guarantees of the First Amendment go – and here’s that phrase again – “too far.” The African American press and its history of advocacy for social justice via First Amendment guarantees of press freedom makes these another cause for concern because this suggests a disconnect between the teaching of history and the teaching of the First Amendment. All students – particularly students who are members of minority groups – need to be educated about the role that freedom of expression played in our country’s history in the struggle against oppression.

 Alexander Pope said, “A little learning is a dangerous thing,” and warned us to “drink deep, or taste not the Pierian spring.” While it's encouraging that more students are engaged in learning about the First Amendment and supporting student journalists' rights, it's also important that students “drink deeper” and learn that going “too far” is sometimes merely a baby step toward progress.