Where should the line be drawn regarding freedom of the press verses a defendant’s rights? When the media takes an interest in a legal matter, is the objectivity of the judicial system challenged? Is it possible for items such as personal blogs and comments posted on Myspace and Facebook to be harmful to one’s chance at a fair trial?

    These questions and more will be raised during the Communications Board Forum held Monday, October 1st   at 7 p.m. in the Panther’s Den in Franklin Hall.  The forum will explore the impact of the media on the justice system.  Several items that have been in the news, such as, The Jena 6, Michael Vick, O.J. Simpson, the Virginia Tech tragedy and the Iraq War are topics that may be discussed.  Panelists will include Franklin County Commonwealth Attorney Cliff Hapgood, Associate Professor of Criminal Justice Ken McCreedy, and WSLS Channel 10 reporter Scott Leamon.   Each panelist will speak on their areas of expertise, and then the forum will be opened up to questions and discussion from the audience.           

    In keeping with the campus’s theme of Social and Economic Justice, all faculty and students are encouraged to attend the event and gain perspective on the issue of media influence in the judicial system.  Communications Board chairman, George Loveland, says, “This will be the first time the Communication Board has taken an active role in educating the campus.”

    For more information on the Communications Forum, contact George Loveland at (540) 365-4427 or gloveland@ferrum.edu

     Ferrum College is a four-year, private, co-educational, liberal arts college affiliated with the United Methodist Church. Ferrum offers a choice of nationally recognized bachelor’s degree programs at a cost well below the national average for private colleges. For more information on Ferrum, visit www.ferrum.edu.