The UNC Center for Media Law and Policy will celebrate its sixteenth annual First Amendment Day on Wednesday, October 8, 2025. This campus-wide, daylong series of events is designed to both celebrate the First Amendment and explore its role in the lives of Carolina students. As always, First Amendment Day is observed during National Banned Books Week.
Join us for CLE credits (Campus Life Experience), food, and thought-provoking discussions.
Here are some highlights:
- The day kicks off with an invitation to read from banned books, presented in collaboration with SILS and the University Libraries
- A voter registration drive will be hosted by the UNC Office of Student Life & Leadership
- A panel of industry experts tackle questions around what responsible use of AI looks like for the future of journalism
- Test your First Amendment knowledge and enjoy free pizza at our 1A Day trivia contest!
- Interested in true crime podcasting? Join a webinar for an insider’s look at the complex legal landscape of true crime media
- Worried about democratic backsliding? In collaboration with the What’s at Stake project, join a candid discussion with CITAP colleagues on the role of First Amendment freedoms in protecting democracy
- How do we balance religious freedoms in an increasingly diverse America? Join this webinar to explore possible paths toward ensuring religious liberty for all Americans
- Keynote: Stories from the Field— a compelling conversation between distinguished journalists and a First Amendment expert
Bring your students and your questions. You won’t find a smarter group of folks talking about these critical issues!