Journalism's John Bender wins Lake Academic Freedom Award

John Bender, news-editorial professor in the University of Nebraska-Lincoln College of Journalism and Mass Communications, has been awarded the James A. Lake Academic Freedom Award by the UNL Faculty Senate. He will receive the award at 3:30 p.m. April 26 at the Faculty Senate meeting in the Nebraska Union Auditorium.

Bender earned the award for his dedication to defending academic freedom and preserving the freedom to seek and communicate truth. As a tenured professor, Bender currently teaches basic and advanced reporting, communication law and history of mass media.

The Lake Award was established in 1980 to honor an individual who "helps preserve the most basic freedom of all, the freedom to seek and communicate truth." Supported by a contribution from former Regent Ed Schwartzkopf, the award is given by the UNL Faculty Senate based upon a nomination by the James A. Lake Academic Freedom Award Committee. The Faculty Senate, established in 1974, is the governing body of faculty and administration and comprises 87 members elected by the faculty of various departments of UNL.

Bender's nomination was supported by three UNL faculty members: Dwayne Ball, associate professor of marketing; Laurie Thomas Lee, professor of broadcasting; and David Moshman, professor of educational psychology.

In his nomination, Ball noted Bender's record of defending academic freedom for his colleagues in both university and public school teaching positions. Bender also served three years on the UNL Academic Rights and Responsibilities Committee and seven years on the board of the Academic Freedom Coalition of Nebraska. Bender has published dozens of papers, articles and books on topics concerned with academic freedom as well.

Bender earned a doctor of philosophy degree in journalism from the University of Missouri, a master of science degree in journalism from the University of Kansas, and a bachelor of arts degree in sociology from Westminster College in Fulton, Mo. He has won numerous awards, including the UNL College Distinguished Teaching Award and the Academic Freedom Award from the Academic Freedom Coalition of Nebraska.

WRITER: Jessica Simpson