Can your boss fire you because of your political views? Can a journalist publish stolen information? Can a university ban a controversial speaker? Learn the answers to these questions and more by listening to The First Five. Hosts Lata Nott and Gene Policinski talk to the experts and cut through the jargon to explain how the five freedoms of the First Amendment work, and what you can do to protect them.

First Thing’s First

Hosts Lata Nott and Gene Policinski talk to the experts and cut through the jargon to explain how the five freedoms of the First Amendment work, and what you can do to protect them.

News & Politics

Government & Organizations

Non-Profit

National

Regional

Local

Rep. Mark DeSaulnier of California discusses the reason for and expected benefits of his “Saving Local News Act of 2019” (H.R. 3126). If it becomes law, the bill would make it easier for local news organizations to gain non-profit tax status and better deal with the financial challenges many face – as many local news providers around the nation cut back on news staff or simply cease operations.

Saving Local News

What does religious liberty actually mean? Author and lawyer Steven Collis talks about four very different Americans — a Catholic priest, an atheist, a Klamath Indian man, and a Christian baker — who put their reputations and livelihoods at risk to preserve and live their personal beliefs.

Deep Conviction — A Look At Religious Liberty

Mickey Osterreicher, general counsel for the National Press Photographers Association and a national expert, provides the latest updates on legal issues surrounding the growing use of drones to gather news, including photos and video.

What’s ‘up’ with aerial news drones?

Student journalists were recognized in two ways during the April 15 announcement of the 2019 Pulitzer Prizes. Pulitzer Administrator Dana Canedy recognized the work of Marjorie Stoneman Douglas High School student reporters after the February 2018 mass shooting at their school in Parkland, Fla. In addition, about 30 collegiate student journalists were invited to attend the event in recognition of 2019 as the Year of the Student Journalist. Freedom Forum Institute President Gene Policinski spoke with some of the invited students immediately after the ceremony at Columbia University in New York City.

Student Journalists: On Journalism, Pulitzer Prizes

An interview with John Gable, the founder of AllSides — a media technology company that exposes people to information and ideas from all sides of the political spectrum so they can better understand the world — and each other.

First Thing’s First

Download our free app to listen on your phone