First Amendment
in spotlight of events

An isle project will include
talks on issues such as
the public's right to know

Pulitzer Prize winner Bill Dedman of the Boston Globe will speak at the annual Freedom of Information Day luncheon Wednesday as part of a series of events ending April 2 to highlight the importance of the First Amendment and the need for public access to government information.

Dedman, a pioneer in computer-assisted journalism, will speak on "Waiting for Deep Throat: Why the Best Stories Aren't Found in Parking Garages" at noon at the Imin Conference Center at the East-West Center.

March 16 is traditionally celebrated as FOI Day because it is the anniversary of the birthday of James Madison, believed to have been the author of the First Amendment.

Dedman received the 1989 Pulitzer Prize in Investigative Reporting for articles in the Atlanta Journal-Constitution on racial discrimination by lenders.

Cost is $17 for members of luncheon sponsors, $22 for nonmembers. Make reservations by Monday to the Honolulu Community-Media Council at 748-0880 or hc-mc@verizon.net.

The talk is sponsored by the Honolulu Community-Media Council, East-West Center, Hawaii and University of Hawaii chapters of the Society of Professional Journalists, UH School of Communications and Ka Leo O Hawaii.

Here are activities planned by the Hawaii Freedom of Information Project, spearheaded by the Honolulu Community-Media Council. Contact event sponsors for more information, or call 748-0880.

» Sunshine Sunday/Sunshine Week: Media coverage is planned for this day and throughout the week to report on freedom-of-information issues and promote the public's right to know. This national project is coordinated in Hawaii by the Society of Professional Journalists.
» Monday: "The Art of Truth: A Dialogue on the Future of Media and Politics," 6 p.m. reception, 7 p.m. dialogue at University of Hawaii-Manoa School of Architecture Auditorium. Free. Featuring Danny Schechter, Merita Mita, Maile Shimabukuro, Keali'i Lopez and moderator Ruth Hsu on the future of media and politics. Co-sponsored by the UH Department of English, University Peace Initiative and UH Office of Sustainability. For more information, contact Ruth Hsu at rhsu@hawaii.edu.
» Monday through Friday: "KHON-TV2 Freedom of Information ActionLine." Freedom-of-information experts will answer questions from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. daily in the KHON-TV2 FOI ActionLine project; call 521-0222. Co-sponsored by Honolulu Community-Media Council; contact 748-0880.
» Tuesday through April 2: "Right to Know Multi-Media Installation on the World of Information." The ARTS at Marks Garage (Nuuanu and Pauahi streets), Tuesday-Saturday, 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Artistic coordinator: Daniela Minerbi. Artists: Meleanna Aluli Meyer, Holger Schramm, Daniela Minerbi and Solomon Enos. Contact Minerbi at 955-5406, freetoknow@yahoo.com, or ARTS at Marks Garage at 521-2903
» Tuesday: Hawaii premiere of the film "Weapons of Mass Deception," by Danny Schechter. The ARTS at Marks Garage. Admission: $10. 6 p.m. reception with DJ Spychedelic; film at 7 p.m., followed by discussion and question-and-answer with Danny Schechter, award-winning filmmaker and journalist. Co-sponsored by the Osher Institute. Contact 282-8407 or freetoknowhawaii@yahoo.com.
» Wednesday: Freedom of Information Day Luncheon -- East-West Center, Imin Conference Center Garden Level. 11:30 am registration, noon lunch.
» Wednesday: "Fear and Favor in the Newsroom," a film narrated by Studs Terkel. St. John Auditorium, UH-Manoa. 7 p.m. Free admission, $3 UH parking fee. Sponsored by UH Political Film Series; contact Mark Burch at burch@hawaii.edu.
» Wednesday: The Big Island Press Club will give out its Lava Tube Award to an individual or group that posed an obstacle to openness in government. The club also will award the Torch of Light to someone who leads the way to openness.
» Thursday: The film "Orwell Rolls in His Grave" at UH School of Architecture Auditorium, 7 p.m. $5 admission, $3 UH parking fee. The film is a critical examination of the fourth estate and its role in democracy. Special presentation in the Bank of Hawaii University of Hawaii Film Series, curated by Don Brown. Contact: 223-0130.
» Next Friday: The film "Propaganda Under Stress: WWII Treatment of Japanese Americans." UH School of Architecture Auditorium, 6:30 p.m. reception; film at 7 p.m. Donation, $3 UH parking fee. Filmmakers Tom Coffman and Bob Bates present a pre-World War II National Archives film by director John Ford and cinematographer Gregg Toland. Sponsored by the Honolulu Community-Media Council, SPJ UH Chapter and Asian American Journalists Association; contact HCMC at 748-0880.
» March 19: The film "Harriet Bouslog" at the UH School of Architecture Auditorium. 6:30 p.m. reception; film at 7 p.m. Donation, $3 UH parking fee. Showing of PBS documentary "Harriet Bouslog," one of the territory of Hawaii's first female attorneys and known as a fighter for unpopular causes. Scripted by Victoria Nalani Kneubuhl, produced and directed by Joy Chong-Stannard and Craig Howes; panel discussion will follow with the filmmakers. Sponsored by Honolulu Community-Media Council and SPJ UH Chapter; contact the Media Council at 748-0880.
» March 20: The film "Weapons of Mass Deception" at the UH School of Architecture Auditorium, 3 p.m. Admission: $5, students $3; UH parking free.
» March 22: Free Speech Slam -- ARTS at Marks Garage. Doors open at 6:30 p.m., food at 7 p.m., slam at 8 p.m. Admission: $5 before 7:30 p.m., $7 afterward. Contest prizes: $150 for first place and $50 for second place. Contest will feature Hawaii slam poets. Hosted by Travis T; judges include Augie T. and Nalani Fujimori. Sponsored by re:VERSES Poetry Collective, Youth Speaks Hawaii and Hawaii Institute for Human Rights; contact Travis T at 753-4661 or poetryhawaii@hotmail.com.
» March 30: The film "Tell the Truth and Run" at the St. John Auditorium, UH-Manoa. 7 p.m. Free admission, $3 UH parking fee. A film about legendary journalist George Seldes. Sponsored by UH Political Film Series; contact Mark Burch at burch@hawaii.edu.
» April 1: First Friday Event -- ARTS at Marks Garage, 6 p.m. Right to Know artist reception with DJ Spychedelic and a reading by UH-Manoa professor and "Aloha Betrayed" author Noenoe Silva.