First Amendement teaches students to go big, or go home

   The First Amendment may be elusive, but don't mistake it's irreplaceable worth. It's imperative that journalism students know their First Amendment, which states: "An amendment to the United States Constitution guaranteeing the rights of free expression and action that are fundamental to democratic government. These rights include freedom of assembly, freedom of the press, freedom of religion, and freedom of speech."

A policeman watches the crowd during a protest in Ferguson, Mo. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)

   Matthew Niles was an NYU student who had his credentials approved by the police department, the event he was covering, and of course- the school. He still got arrested because unfortunately, the police may have had a different interpretation of his ability to practice that right, as they did. Because that can be a scary thought, I encourage students to read his article (posted below) where he goes over things you can do if you actually do get arrested, to alleviate the hardship. 

   Could you imagine being a major news broadcasting network, and getting exposed by high school students, of all people, for being an unethical organization based on the way they share their news?
   Students at Mount Anthony Union High School in Bennington, Vermont, made Fox News and Bill O'Reilly their subject of study, and discovered many ways in which they violated the ethics codes of the Society of Professional Journalists. 

Video on Students exposing Fox news and O'Reilly:
http://www.addictinginfo.org/2015/01/23/fox-news-and-bill-oreilly-get-hammered-by-high-school-students-for-their-lack-of-journalistic-ethics-video/

*link to Matthew Niles tactics if arrested as journalist/protester:
http://www.poynter.org/news/mediawire/266377/so-you-got-arrested-in-ferguson-now-what/