Lauryn Taylor

11/10/19

First Amendment Statement

The First Amendment states, “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment
of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the
press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a
redress of grievances.” In simple terms this amendment set by congress protects citizens’ right
to freedom of speech, religion, assembly, press, and the right to petition.

As a Journalism and Mass Communication student and a citizen of The United States of
America, these freedoms are of the upmost importance. Media is continuously growing and
changing. Centuries ago news was spread by word of mouth, but at this day and age it can be
spread by just unlocking your phone. Cellphones give people access to national, international, or
global news just by a touch of a finger. This brings on a completely new level of responsibilities
on journalist. Journalist are no longer just storytellers, but with these freedoms we are allowed to
have a voice without persecution form the government; a freedom that many other countries do
not provide.

Under our current presidential administration journalist have been under fire. The idea of
Fake News has made many platforms be seen as unreliable to the public. As a student with a
Journalism and Mass Communication degree, I am immediately affected. No, we don’t receive
extreme cruelty under laws, but being seen as untrustworthy as a journalist is nearly the same.

Written by James Maddison, The First Amendment Statement has been around for over
200 years. As a student who is active in the HER Campus chapter of North Carolina Agriculture
and Technical State University, freedom of speech is powerful. This freedom allows me to
publish articles on our website that leave long-lasting impacts on college women from my
campus. Readers are allowed to relate with me through writing. This relationship would not
possible without journalistic freedoms.

I am blessed to have been born in a country that accepts criticism and allows people to
voice it openly. My career pathway would be impossible without the First Amendment, whether
completely upheld or not. This Amendment allows me to relate to readers upon a common
ground and follow my dreams as a Public Relations practitioner.