Tully Center for Free Speech

The Tully Center for Free Speech located at the S. I. Newhouse School of Public Communications at Syracuse University in Syracuse, New York was started in 2006 with a bequest from Joan A. Tully, a 1969 graduate of the Newhouse School and a fully engaged advocate of free speech, free expression, freedom of information and a strong Fourth Estate.[1]

Mission

The Tully Center's primary mission is to advocate for free speech and expression; conduct research on media, law, and policy; and encourage robust conversations between students, faculty, and citizens about these issues. The Tully Center also brings in speakers throughout the year who lecture in classes and at events at the S.I. Newhouse School and across the Syracuse University community. In September 2013, The Tully Center hosted free speech advocate Mary Beth Tinker and student press law attorney Mike Hiestand as part of the Tinker Tour nationwide project. In March 2013, Larry Flynt presented a talk as the Tully Center Distinguished Speaker to celebrate 25 years since the precedent-setting Hustler v. Falwell Supreme Court case.[2] Other past speakers have included Daniel Ellsberg,[3] New York Times reporter Brian Stelter,[4] Amy Goodman of Democracy Now!,[5] Floyd Abrams, Irving Feiner, and Alan Alda.

The Tully Center conducts research on a number of topics relevant to free speech, expression and media law through its Free Speech Zone blog[6] and an annual Syracuse Law Review dedicated to media law issues.

Tully Free Speech Award

In addition to these speakers the Tully Center presents the annual Tully Center for Free Speech Award to a journalist who has survived a significant free speech threat.

Candidates are nominated by an international panel of journalists and lawyers. The Award recipient is selected by an Award Committee of SU faculty and students.

Past winners include Aboubakr Jamaï of Morocco; co-winners Barry Bearak of The New York Times and Frank Chikowore a freelance reporter from Zimbabwe;[7] Lydia Cacho of Mexico; Umar Cheema of The News, Pakistan;[8] and Lamees Dhaif of Bahrain. In October 2013, the Award went to Idrak Abbasov of Azerbaijan.

Faculty

The Director of the Tully Center is Roy S. Gutterman, an associate professor of communications law and journalism at the S.I. Newhouse School. Professor Gutterman draws on experience in both law (as a graduate of the Syracuse University College of Law) and as a journalist (as a reporter for the Cleveland Plain Dealer). He has spoken on the First Amendment, free speech, and media law at universities and conferences around the United States and recently delivered lectures at National Chengchi University in Taipei City, Taiwan; Fudan University in Shanghai; and the Communication University of China in Beijing.[9] His book, L.Rev: the Law Review Experience in American Legal Education (Academica Press, 2002) is in law school libraries around the world.

The graduate assistant of the Tully Center is Elena Sorokina, a Media Studies M.A. candidate.

References

  1. ↑ "Joan Tully - Tully". Tully.syr.edu. 2012-01-27. Retrieved 2012-02-02.
  2. ↑ "Hustler Publisher Larry Flynt: 'Print Media is on its way out, including us'". syracuse.com. 2013-03-04. Retrieved 2013-03-27.
  3. ↑ "Daniel Ellsberg speaks at Syracuse University about meeting with Julian Assange". syracuse.com. Retrieved 2012-02-02.
  4. ↑ "New York Times media reporter Brian Stelter to visit Newhouse School". Insidesu.syr.edu. 2011-10-19. Retrieved 2012-02-02.
  5. ↑ "Syracuse, NY". Democracy Now!. 2011-11-03. Retrieved 2012-02-02.
  6. ↑ "Free Speech Zone - Tully - The Tully Center for Free Speech". Tully.syr.edu. 2012-01-27. Retrieved 2012-02-02.
  7. ↑ Jason Tarr (February 3, 2009). "Zimbabwean Journalist Earns Free Speech Award". ABC News. Retrieved 2 February 2012.
  8. ↑ "Umar Cheema gets journalism award in NY". Thenews.com.pk. Retrieved 2012-02-02.
  9. ↑ "Staff - Tully". Tully.syr.edu. 2012-01-27. Retrieved 2012-02-02.