MUNCIE, Ind. - Retired Ball State University journalism professor and chairman Louis Ingelhart is being honored by College Media Advisors (CMA) for his longtime advocacy of First Amendment freedoms.

The Ingelhart First Amendment Fund will be used to support innovative free expression education programs on the campuses of CMA members.

“If my name helps to get some worthwhile things accomplished on college campuses then I’m all for it,” Ingelhart told the CMA.

Nationally known for his work in journalism education and as a champion of a free student press, Ingelhart admits he often manages to divert most conversations and speaking engagements to this subject.

Ingelhart was responsible for the growth of Ball State’s journalism program, serving as director and chairman from 1968 to 1979.

Ingelhart, who retired from Ball State in 1983, has dedicated much of his life to studying, writing about and teaching the First Amendment.

Inglehart is a former vice president of the First Amendment Congress, a national organization of journalists, and author of several high school and college student press law textbooks. He served on the Freedom of Information Committee for the Society of Professional Journalists.

His experience with high school journalism dates back to 1937 when he was the editor of his high school newspaper in Grand Junction, Colo. He recognized his role as an activist in 1958 when attitudes toward the press began to change following World War II. At that time college and high school media were widely being threatened with censorship.

“There is nothing wrong with someone not liking something you publish and nothing wrong if they say they don’t like it, but when they take action then the First Amendment is in danger of being violated,” Ingelhart said.

The First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution guarantees freedom from state religion, freedom of personal religion, speech, press, assembly and petition.

Recent surveys show Americans continue to show support for the specific freedoms guaranteed by the First Amendment but have become more critical of the press with 40 percent of Americans believing the press has too much freedom.

Ingelhart hopes the fund that bears his name will help educate students about the importance of the First Amendment.

“Accuracy and truth are the hallmarks of good journalism, but the First Amendment protects bad journalism as well,” he said

(NOTE TO EDITORS: For more information, contact Louis Ingelhart by phone at (765) 288-6725 or Chris Carroll, president, College Media Advisors, at (901) 678-2403.)