MEDIA ADVISORY
The recent dawn of technology and the subsequent rise of new media could not have been foreseen by the drafters of the First Amendment when they included freedom of speech and press as a fundamental right. However, with technology at society’s fingertips, the information that is now shared has blurred the lines between fact and fiction. Popular platforms, which millions of users log on to everyday, have drastically altered the way we communicate and share news. This year, the Poucher Lecture’s distinguished experts will discuss the implications of the first amendment in this new media environment.
“First Amendment in a New Media Environment” will be held Thursday, November 9, at 6:00 p.m. at the University of Florida Levin College of Law in the Chesterfield Smith Ceremonial Classroom (Room 180), located at 309 Village Drive, Gainesville, Florida 32611. The lecture is free and open to the public.
The Allen L. Poucher Legal Education Series was endowed by Betty K. Poucher, Elizabeth Poucher Reynolds, and Allen L. Poucher, Jr. in honor of Allen L. Poucher Senior. A humanitarian who lived a life dedicated to service, Allen L. Poucher Sr. graduated from UF Law in 1942 and practiced law for more than 60 years. The Poucher Legal Education Series seeks to provide a venue for prominent legal, political, and business leaders to discuss important issues facing our nation and world today. It has featured distinguished panelists such as former U.S. Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O’Connor, five former Florida governors, a former CIA spy, a four-star general, and numerous legal scholars.
Distinguished Speakers
Mary Anne Franks, Professor at the University of Miami School of Law, is recognized as a leading thinker on the intersection between privacy, civil rights, technology, and constitutional law. Professor Franks is the Vice-President and Legislative & Tech Policy Director of the Cyber Civil Rights Initiative, a nonprofit organization dedicated to combating online abuse and discrimination.
Amy Gajda, a former journalist, is a professor at Tulane University Law School and is recognized internationally for her expertise in media law and privacy law. Professor Gajda is the author of The First Amendment Bubble: How Privacy and Paparazzi Threaten a Free Press.
Gregg Thomas, an attorney at Thomas & LoCicero in Tampa, is one of the country’s leading media and First Amendment lawyers. Thomas has argued and won numerous high-profile cases on behalf of newspapers, television stations, movie producers, and other media entities.
Moderator
Jon Mills is Dean Emeritus, Professor of Law, and Director of Center for Governmental Responsibility at the University of Florida Levin College of Law. Professor Mills is a globally recognized expert in privacy and cyber security issues.
For more details or to submit a question to the panelists, please visit the Florida Law Review’s website or contact the office at 352-273-0670.
