Nominations Open for James Madison Award

LEXINGTON, Ky. (Aug. 18, 2014) — Freedom of speech and freedom of the press are two of the linchpins of American democracy. The Scripps Howard First Amendment Center in the School of Journalism and Telecommunications at the University of Kentucky College of Communication and Infomration annually recognizes a Kentuckian who has made an outstanding contribution to the First Amendment.

The James Madison Award, created in 2006, honors the nation’s fourth president, whose extraordinary efforts led to the ratification of the Bill of Rights. The center at the University of Kentucky is seeking nominations for its 2014 award.

The nomination deadline is Sept. 15. The winner will be honored at the annual First Amendment Celebration on Oct. 8. 

Nominees must have significant ties to Kentucky, and their efforts must have resulted in the preservation or expansion of freedom of the press and/or freedom of speech. The award recognizes a long-term commitment to these ideals.

The Scripps Howard First Amendment Center encourages recognition of those outside the journalism profession for their contributions to protect or expand First Amendment freedoms.  Nominees may include, for example, educators, lawyers, judges, scholars, librarians, students or ordinary citizens.

The Madison Award will recognize those who have labored or taken a stand in one or more of these areas: open government and open records; robust debate in the marketplace of ideas; promotion of the watchdog role of the press; defense against government or private censorship. 

The nominator must submit a letter identifying the nominee, listing the nominee’s address, phone number and position, and explaining why the nominee would be a worthy recipient.  The letter should detail the specific efforts taken on behalf of First Amendment rights and should discuss obstacles and difficulties as well as the impact of the nominee’s efforts.  The nominator may include up to three letters of support as well as other materials such as published or broadcast information.

Entries will be reviewed by a committee that will include previous winners and the director of the Scripps Howard First Amendment Center.  The committee will have the option of not selecting a recipient if it does not believe any candidate is deserving.

Past winners were Judith Clabes, founder of UK’s First Amendment Center and a strong supporter of a free press as a newspaper editor and CEO of the Scripps Howard Foundation; Jon Fleischaker, the Commonwealth’s foremost media law attorney; veteran Courier-Journal reporter Tom Loftus, who has used public records extensively to expose government corruption; David Hawpe, retired Courier-Journal reporter and editor who fought relentlessly to open records and meetings; John Nelson, managing editor of The Advocate-Messenger in Danville and executive editor of Advocate Communications Inc., who was recognized for, among other activities, organizing a statewide open records audit; veteran newsman Al Smith, whose KET public affairs program, “Comment on Kentucky,” informed the state’s citizens on government issues affecting them; retired media law attorney Kim Greene, who fought many fights for open government for media clients she represented. 

 The 2013 winner was Jennifer P. Brown, opinions editor of The Kentucky New Era, a tireless advocate for open government who has fostered a culture of watchdog journalism at the New Era.

Nominations should be sent to Mike Farrell, Scripps Howard First Amendment Center, School of Journalism and Telecommunications, 220 Grehan Building, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40506-0042, or emailed to farrell@uky.edu.

For more information, contact Mike Farrell, director of the Scripps Howard First Amendment Center at (859) 257-4848, or farrell@uky.edu.

MEDIA CONTACT:Ann Blackford at 859-323-6442 or ann.blackford@uky.edu