First Amendment scholar to chair Media Coalition
Finan to head trade association
By Cheryl Cheng -- Video Business, 1/7/2009
JAN. 7 | First Amendment scholar and advocate Chris Finan has been elected to chair the Media Coalition, a trade association that defends the First Amendment rights of publishers; booksellers; librarians; recording, motion picture and videogame producers; and recording, video and videogame retailers in the U.S.
Entertainment Merchants Assn. VP of public affairs Sean Bersell was the previous chair.
“I am extremely pleased that Chris Finan, who is incredibly knowledgeable about free speech issues and well respected, is assuming the chair of Media Coalition,” said Bersell. “The leadership and credibility he brings to our efforts will enhance our ability to counter government censorship of publications and entertainment.”
Media Coalition last year successfully challenged an Indiana law that would classify any business that offered “sexually explicit” work as an adult business. The association also opposed a proposed Arizona law that would make retailers liable for criminal acts caused by books or entertainment sold by the retailer. Media Coalition also fought against state laws that attempted to limit Internet material and state videogame restriction laws.
“Media Coalition plays a critical role in protecting what the American people can see, read and hear,” said Finan, who joined the association in 1982. He was president of the American Booksellers Foundation for Free Expression and served as chair of the National Coalition Against Censorship. Finan also wrote the award-winning book From the Palmer Raids to the Patriot Act: A History of the Fight for Free Speech in America.
