04-08-04

IOWA STATE UNIVERSITY TO HOST FIRST AMENDMENT DAY APRIL 15; FORMER MIDDLE EAST HOSTAGE TERRY ANDERSON TOSPEAK

AMES, Iowa -- Iowa State University's Greenlee School of Journalism and Communication will note the importance of theFirst Amendment by hosting a day of debate, lectures and petition tables on April 15. The event is part of Veishea Weekactivities.

The keynote event is an 8 p.m. panel lecture, " Attacks on the Press--Not Just Abroad," in the Sun Room, MemorialUnion. The event includes former Middle East hostage Terry Anderson; Ann Cooper, a 1971 ISU graduate and executivedirector of the Committee to Protect Journalists; and Larry Heinzerling, a long-time editor and executive with theAssociated Press with extensive foreign desk experience.

Anderson and his wife, Madeleine Bassil, wrote the book "Den of Lions" about his seven years (1985 -- 1991) as ahostage of Shiite militants in Lebanon. He also wrote and narrated the prize-winning CNN and PBS documentary, "Returnto the Den of Lions," about his return to Lebanon following 16 years of civil war.

Anderson was a journalism professor for Columbia University's Graduate School of Journalism, New York, and OhioUniversity's Scripps School of Journalism, Athens, before retiring three years ago. Michael Bugeja, director of theGreenlee School, recruited Anderson to Ohio and invited him back to Ames and his alma mater.

Anderson is a 1974 graduate of Iowa State and began his professional career as a reporter for KRNT Radio and KCCI-TV 8,both in Des Moines.

Cooper has worked as a reporter in the former Soviet Union, Africa and Washington, D.C., before joining the Committeeto Protect Journalists as executive director. She worked for nine years as a correspondent for National Public Radioand for several newspapers including Congressional Quarterly, the Baltimore Sun and the National Journal. She graduatedfrom Iowa State in 1971.

Heinzerling has worked for the Associated Press for 35 years as a reporter, editor, bureau chief, corporate executiveand currently as the deputy international editor for World Services. In the 1980s, Heinzerling worked behind the scenesfor the Associated Press in efforts to free Anderson from captivity.

During their visit to Iowa State, the three speakers will also work with undergraduate and graduate students in severaljournalism and communication classes.

Other First Amendment Day events include an 11 a.m. lunch on central campus during which live debates on current socialissues will be held. The lunch is free and open to the public.

At 3:30 p.m., a copy of the First Amendment will be unveiled in the west entrance of Hamilton Hall followed by areception in room 117. The reception is free and open to the public.

For more information, visit the Greenlee School Web site,http://www.jlmc.iastate.edu/.

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