Edward R. Murrow was one of the creators of American broadcast journalism.
Murrow inspired other journalists to defend and perpetuate the First
Amendment rights.
Fred W. Friendly, an early innovator of broadcast journalism, was also
known for his seminars on the media and public issues and for his writings
on the First Amendment.
Ida B. Wells (1862-1931) was an African American woman who was born into
slavery in Mississippi and eventually became the co-owner and editor of the
Memphis Free Speech.
John Seigenthaler was the longtime editor of The Tennessean in Nashville,
known for championing civil rights. He founded the First Amendment Center
at Vanderbilt University in 1991 and became a national leader in promoting
First Amendment values.
Judith P. Miller, a Pulitzer Prize–winning investigative journalist, went
to jail rather than testify before a federal grand jury about a
confidential source.
Kenneth A. Paulson has led several national programs to increase
understanding of the First Amendment and its role in society. He is former
editor in chief of USA Today.
Nat Hentoff, a civil libertarian, jazz critic, and self-described
troublemaker, spent much of his career defending the First Amendment
against a variety of perceived threats.