News
< Leyla Zana freed! | Main | U.S. Panel Dismisses 'Fahrenheit 9/11' Complaint >
First Amendment Award Guidelines
August 06, 2004
To celebrate the enduring role of the First Amendment in American life and to honor those who have defended freedom of expression, PEN USA establishes the First Amendment Award to be bestowed on the basis of the following guidelines:
Story Continued...
To celebrate the enduring role of the First Amendment in American life and to honor those who have defended freedom of expression, PEN USA establishes the First Amendment Award to be bestowed on the basis of the following guidelines:
1. This award will be given to an individual, organization or entity that has demonstrated exceptional courage in defending freedom of expression in the United States.
2. Recipients may be honored because they were the victims of censorship and displayed a selfless commitment to the First Amendment, despite the personal consequences to themselves or because in a defining moment or over the course of many years they took courageous public positions which advanced a better understanding of the First Amendment and/or opposed restrictions on the free, open and robust exchange of ideas.
3. Recipients may be chosen from every walk of life, including little known individuals, prominent leaders, pubic officials and others. So long as the recipient qualifies under the other guidelines, it is not necessary that they be a writer, journalist or artist, provided that given PEN’s mission and membership, the FTW Committee will make every effort to identify nominees who are writers, journalists or artists.
4. The First Amendment Award will be given without regard to one’s political affiliation, viewpoints, gender, race, age, ethnicity, sexual orientation, religion, citizenship or national origin.
5. The FTW Committee shall nominate one recipient and one alternate to the Executive Committee, which shall select the finalist by a majority vote, subject to ratification by the full Board.
Comments:
How does one nominate someone for this award?