Wisconsin's radio and television stations are joining a national public awareness campaign to bring attention to the importance of the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution.
The Wisconsin Broadcasters Association joins more than 20 state broadcast associations and state press associations in the "Think F1rst" campaign. The WBA has asked its radio and TV members to support the campaign in-kind by airing spots on radio and television stations and putting links on the stations' websites and social media platforms to the campaign website.
WBA President Michelle Vetterkind says the campaign started with the Nebraska Broadcasters Association and their leader...
"...Their media association put this campaign together. They put a lot of time and money into that and for that we greatly appreciate(it). They're offering it for free to the other state's broadcaster's association. So far I know that more than 20 other state broadcaster associations and press associations are participating in the campaign..."
Newspaper organizations are also involved.
In a 2018 a civics survey taken by the Annenberg Public Policy Center, nearly 4 in 10 students couldn’t name even one of the five freedoms guaranteed by the First Amendment..
"...those are religion, speech, press, the right to assemble and the right to petition. I think when that shocking realization came to fruition, that was the premis for creating such a campaign..."
The “Think F1rst” campaign runs through December 31. The campaign's proponents encourage people to learn more about the First Amendment by visiting the website, www.ThinkFirstAmendment.org.
