50th Annual Literature Medal Awards Luncheon - Author of The World Challenge

Sep 28, 2026

50th Annual Literature Medal Awards Luncheon program details an address by Fred W. Friendly, discussing the First Amendment’s meaning and priorities, especially the doctrine that prior restraints (“gags”) are unconstitutional except in extreme situations involving national security. The text provides press responsibility themes, explains issues surrounding contested free-speech cases, and emphasizes clearer public communication of legal judgments from Near v. Minnesota to later landmark contexts, while also listing event schedules and ticketing information.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryLiterature

FormatPDF

Pages7

Reading Time11 min

AccessFree to download

50th Annual Literature Medal Awards Luncheon

Author of The World Challenge

Address by Fred W. Friendly

Program notes and scheduling

JUNE19 JUNE 26 JULY1 Rt.Honorable Jean-JacquesServan-Schreiber Robert D.Raven Sir IanGilmour President Lord Privy Seal The State Bar of CaliforniaNoon,WednesdayPlaza Ballroom,Hyatt,Union Square (England) # Author of The World Challenge ●"The U.K.,the E.C.and the U.S.” "The World Challenge” Advance Tickets-$13 formembers,$14forguests.Mail check with self-addressed,stamped envelope toCommonwealth Club,681Market St.S.F.94105,orcall (415)362-4903 forreservations.Tickets must be purchasedby Noon.Unpaid reservations will becancelled at that time.No refunds orcancellations after that date.A limitednumber of tickets will be available at thedoor on the day of the event on a firstcome,first served basis. Noon,FridayRose RoomSheraton Palace Hotel Noon,Friday Gold BallroomSheraton Palace Hotel Advance Tickets-$10 for members,$11for guests.Mail check with self-addressed,stamped envelope,to Com-monwealth Club,681 Market Street,S.F.94105,or call 362-4903 for reserva-tions.Tickets must be purchased by 5 p.m..Wednesday,June 24.Unpaid reserva-tions will be cancelled at that time.Norefunds or cancellations after that date.A limited number of tickets will beavailable at the door on a first come,first served basis. Advance Tickets-$10 for members;$11for guests.Mail check with selfaddressed,stamped envelope to Com-monwealth Club,681 Market Street,S.F.94105,or call 362-4903 for reserva-tions.Tickets must be purchased by 5p.m.Wed.June 17.No refunds or can-cellations after that date.A limitednumber of tickets will be available forpurchase at the door on a first come,first serve basis. Due to the July 4holiday the Club'sweekly luncheon meeting will occuronWednesday.July 1.There will be no Clubevent on Friday,July 3. Thomas J.MellonQuarterly Chairman Thomas J.Mellon There will be no Club Event on Friday,July 3. Quarterly Chairman INSIDE:164.Literature Awards Luncheon speaker,Fred Friendly,outlines press responsibility to the people.165-166.Study Section Meeting Schedule,June15 through July 13.168.Study Tour the Mediterranean,make your reservations now.NOTE:Special StudySection Event,June 23,see page 167.The Commonwealth 163 tal prescription against prior restraintswhich was established 50 years ago inNear v.Minnesota,with the wholerange of such other contested issuessuch as sources,shield laws,reporters'notes,film or tape outtakes,access rulesand punitive damages in libel law.Grouping all these issues together blursthe public's vision,and our own of whatthe First Amendment means and whatits priorities are.At times the press ap-pears to be putting itself above the law.At other times it becomes so ensconcedin the details that it loses sight of whatits priorities should be. # 50th AnnualLiteratureMedal AwardsLuncheon What we can do is explain the court'sjudgments from the case of Near v.Min-nesota to Pentagon Papers to Carol Bur-nett.That means not to confuse thecitizen with our rhetoric and shorthandjargon which leaves him with the feel-ing that there are no shades of gray inFirst Amendment rights.When we usestock and trade phrases such as "thepublic's right to know"or "free flow ofinformation,"we fail to explain what wereally mean. Address delivered byFRED W.FRIENDLY,Author,Minnesota Rag andFormer President,CBS News. Photo:Shirley Cohelan Burton # “Fifty YearsLater:The (bmmomureallh The Freest Voice # Minnesota CaseThat Shaped theConstitution” We have the freest press in the world,perhaps the only truly unfettered one,and the central rivet of press freedom isthe virtual embargo against previousrestraints.It may well be that somecourt will someday rule that FirstAmendment protection extends to news-gathering or that punitive damages with-out prescribed guidelines are virtually aprevious restraint in their chilling effect,or that the expansion of broadcast chan-nels has made television and radioregulations as outmoded and unconstitu-tional as control of newspapers andmagazines.However,that

FAQs

What principle about prior restraints does the address emphasize?

It stresses that prior restraints (“gags”) are unconstitutional except in extreme situations when national security is at stake.

Which legal developments are mentioned as part of the explanation of First Amendment rights?

The program references judgments from Near v. Minnesota through the Pentagon Papers and other related examples to illustrate the need for clear public understanding.

What does the program say about the press’s role in public understanding?

It argues that the press has not done enough to explain its processes and roots in the First Amendment, and that journalists should avoid confusing rights with what is merely right.

Sep 28, 2026

Uploaded by Emma Wilson