The Independent Florida Alligator
Wins SPJ First Amendment Award
(October 6, 2001, Bellevue, Wash.) College of Journalism and Communications students Jason Brown, Trey Csar and Teresa Wood, representing The Independent Florida Alligator, accepted the 2001 First Amendment Award presented by the Society of Professional Journalists at its 2001 National Convention.
The award recognizes the independent student newspaper staff's legal battle in the Dale Earnhardt autopsy-photo case. The paper, which serves the University of Florida, went to court in Daytona Beach seeking permission to view autopsy photos of the NASCAR driver, who was killed Feb. 18 in a crash at the Daytona 500. In its quest, the staff faced death threats, vandalism and lost advertising revenue.
Brown was editor of the Alligator at the time of the events and is currently editorial page editor. Csar is the current editor and was previously the managing editor. Wood is the managing editor.
Related Links:
Society of Professional Journalists
The Independent Florida Alligator
The Campaign for the University of Florida