first amendment

Commentary: The Sedition Act and the Enduring Danger of Restricting a Free Press

Jul 14, 2026 at 09:45 am

COMMENTARY - This week marks the anniversary of a pivotal moment in the history of press freedom, when Congress passed the Sedition Act of 1798 and made certain criticism of t.... Read More

Celebrating America's 250th Birthday: Dr. Bill Kraus, Bobby Welch, John Swofford, and Bobby Lewis on Faith & Freedom

Jul 02, 2026 at 10:18 am by Producer

Weaving through three centuries of shared history, the American spirit thrives on deep-rooted faith, personal liberty, and a unique sense of humor that carries us through li.... Read More

COMMENTARY: Dr. Larry Burriss Looks at Banned Books and the Freedom to Read

Jul 01, 2026 at 09:48 pm by WGNS News

COMMENTARY: As Independence Day weekend approaches, MTSU journalism professor Dr. Larry Burriss is taking a closer look at freedom of thought, public debate, and the continuin.... Read More

Rutherford County Website Offers Access to Challenged and Restricted Library Books

May 05, 2026 at 08:26 pm by WGNS

MURFREESBORO, Tenn. (WGNS)- A Murfreesboro-based website is offering residents a way to request delivery of books that organizers say have been banned, challenged, restricted.... Read More

COMMENTARY: The First Amendment is a Shield, Not a Gift

Apr 30, 2026 at 03:08 pm by WGNS News

COMMENTARY: This week, we mark "Law Day" by stepping back from the headlines to examine the bedrock of our industry: the First Amendment. We’ll explore how this constitu.... Read More

Rutherford County Library Director Defies Library Board - Refuses Order to Relocate Books (With Audio from Public Comments)

Mar 20, 2026 at 02:18 pm by WGNS News

    UPDATED: RUTHERFORD COUNTY, TN - The Rutherford County Library System (RCLS) is currently embroiled in a significant dispute over intellectual freedom followin.... Read More

COMMENTARY | From the Pentagon Papers to Paine: A History of Leaks, Journalism, and National Security

Jun 09, 2025 at 04:23 pm by WGNS

This month marks the anniversary of one of the most pivotal moments in American journalism—the release of the Pentagon Papers. It reignited a centuries-old debate about.... Read More

Masked Protests and First Amendment Rights – The Chickenman Case in Smyrna

Dec 16, 2024 at 05:28 pm by WGNS Radio News

Commentary: The enduring legacy of "Chickenman," a character originally from a 1960s pseudo radio drama, and how that character now has ties to Smyrna, Tennessee - - where a p.... Read More

Commentary: Free Speech Under Threat: The Importance of Exercising Our Rights

Jul 16, 2024 at 07:15 am by WGNS News

COMMENTARY: On July 14, 1798, the Sedition Act was passed, making it illegal to publish negative content about the government, despite the First Amendment guaranteeing free.... Read More

Transgender Youth Medical Ban in Tennessee Faces Supreme Court Scrutiny

Jun 24, 2024 at 02:03 pm by WGNS News

  The Supreme Court of the United States has agreed to hear a case against a 2023 Tennessee law that bans certain medical care for transgender youth. The case was brough.... Read More

First Amendment Theory and Practice, Prostitution and Backpage – MTSU Professor Larry Burriss has More

Aug 07, 2023 at 02:29 pm by WGNS News

First Amendment theory and practice, prostitution and Backpage, with more, here is MTSU Professor Larry Burriss... Commentary – Verbatim: Last week James Larkin,.... Read More

MTSU PR students earn 2 Parthenon Awards for promoting 1st Amendment freedoms

Oct 02, 2020 at 09:13 am by WGNS

A team of nine MTSU students and alumni is celebrating two 2020 Parthenon Awards earned for a “shoestring budget” public relations campaign last fall to educate th.... Read More

MTSU Launches "1 For All Campaign for the First Amendment"

Jun 25, 2020 at 05:30 pm by Bart

(MURFREESBORO)  The 1 for All Campaign for the First Amendment will be launched from the Free Speech Center at Middle Tennessee State University in Murfreesboro.... Read More