Tell Me Lies: The First Amendment & the Right to (Mis)inform
Monday, May 9, 2022, Stark Brewing Co., Manchester
Why should misinformation be protected under the Constitution? Don't we need laws to ensure that citizens receive truthful information? If you are living in an authoritarian country, the answer is easy–the state determines what is true and what is false. But in our democracy, the burden for filtering out truth from falsehood falls on each of us. This discussion examines the 1964 case New York Times v. Sullivan that protects newspapers from libel suits, even when they publish "erroneous statements," and its consequences. We’ll consider the reasoning behind the Sullivan ruling, how journalists depend on its protection, and what would happen should it be overturned. Rather than endorsing one side of the argument, can we work together to create animated yet productive public debates?
Moderator
Meg Mott, Ph.D., Professor of Politics Emerita and Town Moderator, Putney, VT. After twenty years of teaching political theory and constitutional law to Marlboro College undergraduates, Meg Mott has taken her love of argument to the general public. She attended the University of New Hampshire in the 1970s and is currently teaching at Keene State College. Meg’s award-winning series Debating Our Rights on the first ten amendments brings civil discussions on contentious issues to public libraries and colleges.
Panelists
Anna Brown, Director of Research & Analysis at Citizens Count, a nonprofit dedicated to providing unbiased information about New Hampshire issues and candidates. She has been with the organization since 2011. In her current role she is responsible for tracking, analyzing, and summarizing the roughly 2,000 bills and 1,000 candidates that move through New Hampshire every two years. She co-hosts the podcast $100 Plus Mileage, a joint project with the Granite State News Collaborative, covering lesser-known legislation before the New Hampshire General Court. She is also a regular guest and subject matter expert on New Hampshire politics for NHPBS, NH Public RadioR, and other media outlets. She received her master’s degree in justice studies from the University of New Hampshire.
Timothy M. Kelly, Executive Editor, New Hampshire Union Leader since 2019, directs the newspaper’s digital and print content efforts, with an emphasis on political, regional and business coverage and on civic, solution and enterprise journalism. Kelly is a veteran media executive whose career spans 40 years in reporting, editing and senior leadership roles in news and sports at newspapers around the country, including the Washington Post, USA Today, Dallas Morning News and Seattle Post-Intelligencer. For more than 20 years, he was editor of the Beaumont (Texas) Enterprise, Hearst’s flagship community newspaper. He is a past president of the Freedom of Information Foundation of Texas and a speaker at FOIFT’s First Amendment Institute. A 1982 graduate of the University of Maryland, he covered the first game of Cal Ripken’s major league-record consecutive games played streak.
Will Stewart, Manchester Alderman, was elected in 2017 to represent Ward 2 on the City of Manchester Board of Mayor and Aldermen. Now in his third term, Will's efforts at City Hall have focused on neighborhood quality of life issues, from slowing down speeding traffic and improving local parks to finding neighborhood-based housing, child care, and recycling solutions. Professionally, Will's resume includes stints in journalism, community organizing, and in chambers of commerce. He currently serves as Executive Director of Stay Work Play New Hampshire, a statewide nonprofit whose mission is to attract and retain more young people.
Suggested reading/listening:
The 1960 advertisement in the New York Times that provoked the lawsuit
The 1964 Supreme Court unanimous decision
New York Times v. Sullivan Podcast
For more information about Ideas on Tap, contact Catherine Winters, Programs Coordinator, at 603-224-4071 or programs@nhhumanities.org.
This series was made possible by the Mellon Foundation.
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