SKOWHEGAN, Maine — The Margaret Chase Smith Library has announced the topic of its 22nd annual essay contest: the appropriate role of the media in American society.
The ideal of a free press is so central to democracy that its protection is enshrined in the First Amendment to the United States Constitution. Yet its practice is often contested. This was true during the McCarthy, Vietnam and Watergate eras in Sen. Smith’s time. In our own time, questions about the ethics and influence of the media has resurfaced through concerns about “fake” news.
Entries are due by March 30, 2018, and decisions will be announced on May 4. Prizes are $1000 for first place, $500 for second place, $250 for third place, and $50 for five honorable mentions.
For more information, visit the Library’s website (http://www.mcslibrary.org/program/edu/essay.htm) or contact John Taylor at 474-7133.
Located in Skowhegan, Maine, the Library is owned by the Margaret Chase Smith Foundation and operated under its auspices by the University of Maine. The Margaret Chase Smith Library is an archive, museum, educational facility, and public policy center devoted to preserving the legacy of Margaret Chase Smith, promoting research into American political history, advancing the ideals of public service, and exploring issues of civic engagement.
