Law and Ethics

Since my freshman year, sitting in on a zoom call with the student press law center, I was devoted to fostering first amendment freedoms in my publications classroom. My time as the Kentucky representative at the Al Neuharth Free Spirit and Journalism Conference in June of 2025 cemented these feelings, and I have gone on to continue my work protecting advisors and aspiring journalists in Kentucky through my work with Kentucky Legislature in passing SB 63 or “New Voices.”

My time at the Freedom Forum taught me many things, gave me extremely knowledgeable contacts but also opened my eyes to what a journalist should always have in his or her back pocket. And that is constitutional freedoms. I met Freedom Forums First Amendment expert and specialist, Kevin Goldberg, who I talked to personally gave me insight to wat I should expect from my constitutional protection. and In a time of limiting journalists around the country, from university publications to the New York Times being stifled by the Pentagon, journalists more than ever need the assurance that their work is protected. At the Freedom Forum, I met with Arkansas New Voices champion, Ava Kate White, who told me that the hard work getting New Voices passed in her state, while a long process, was something she’d always be proud of. She inspired me to keep trying. I am now working with Bullitt East County High school, our senate sponsor (Senator Neal) in getting more support on both sides of the aisle. We are set to go back to Frankfort in the coming months to try and grasp more backing.

To the left is a picture of my correspondence with Bullitt East High School students who I am coordinating "New Voices" efforts with, as well as our next trip to Frankfort in gaining Senate support.

Here is a picture of recent email to Senator Frommeyer from my distroict asking for support on "New Voices."

Here is a picture at right of our class engaged in a Zoom session with the Student Press Law Center (STLP) in 2023, explaining First Amendment freedoms applied to the school environment. Calls like this have functioned to inform our ever evolving journalists that they are protected by organizations like SPLC, how to get help if needed and the importance of being informed.

Here is a picture from the NSPA/JEA Nashville convention this last fall. The man farthest on the left is Kevin Goldberg, First Amendment specialist for the Freedom Forum. He was one of my favorite's to talk to at the Al Neuharth Free Spirit and Journalism Conference and he was the one who propelled my knowledge of what "New Voices" is. I have reached out to him several times after our meeting over the summer to ask questions surrounding ethics in my community. He is a resources I am so grateful to have correspondence with!

In D.C we went on a walk to see the White House, we saw this tired, weary and utterly exhausted protester outside with a sign. We talked to him, he'd been standing there for 10 days straight. Same clothes, same shoes, same hat. He told me that in todays America if kids like us don't do what he was doing—standing up for what they believe in despite the risk—we would no longer have a democracy. This stuck with me and I continue his mission as I participated in Anti-ICE protests around Cincinnati just a month ago, went to No Kings protests last year in my area. Justice and ethics beyond the classroom means civic duty, despite your affiliation, journalists are unbiased but they also stand up for what they believe in on their personal time.

This experience taught me also as a journalist that the real stories, the humanitarian, deep and meaningful stories come from people like this guy. Journalists need more of interviewees like him, we need to find people with this kind of dedication to country, even if their views differ or are in some way different.

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