Increase public awareness of First Amendment; download, run ads

Media of Nebraska's "Think F1rst" public awareness campaign about the First Amendment of the United States Constitution is spreading across America.

Twenty-three press associations and broadcast associations have agreed to ask their respective members to support the campaign in-kind on radio and television stations, in newspapers, and on the websites and social media platforms of these same entities. 

"Think F1rst" is a campaign designed to express a simple directive: to encourage all Americans to think about the five freedoms guaranteed in the First Amendment.   

After "Think F1rst" debuted in Nebraska in 2018, the dedicated website www.ThinkFirstAmendment.org attracted over 400,000 visits within 60 days.  

"Once we saw that level of interest, we began discussing how we could get the messaging distributed across the country," said Ariel Roblin, chairperson of the Nebraska Broadcasters Association and president/general manager of KETV in Omaha.  "We made presentations to our colleagues in other states and found strong interest in supporting the campaign." 

Allen Beermann, executive director of the Nebraska Press Association, said: "We felt so strongly about the importance of this message that the respective foundations of the Nebraska Press Association and Nebraska Broadcasters Association agreed to pay for the new creative to be used across the country.  Preserving the First Amendment has now become a joint effort."     

The original Nebraska campaign was launched after Media of Nebraska members noted polls showing that many Americans lacked even a basic knowledge of the First Amendment, particularly in articulating the five freedoms that it guarantees. In a 2018 civics survey taken by the Annenberg Public Policy Center, nearly four in 10 students couldn't name even one of the five freedoms guaranteed by the First Amendment. 

The "Think F1rst" campaign will begin Aug. 1 and run through Dec. 31.  The campaign will be supported in-kind on radio and television stations, in newspapers, and on the websites and social media platforms of these same entities. 

The creative elements of the campaign were created by Clark Creative Group of Omaha. Fred Clark, president of Clark Creative Group, said: "The creative approach for the Think F1rst campaign was a strong collaboration between Media of Nebraska and Clark Creative Group. We thought it was important to represent 'We the people' in this important campaign and we are thrilled to see "Think F1rst" spreading across America."

All campaign components will encourage people to learn more about the First Amendment by visiting the website, www.ThinkFirstAmendment.org