ISSN 0028-9485 January 2008 Vol. LVII No. 1 www.ala.org/nif Project Censored, a media research group at Sonoma State University that tracks news published in independent journals and newsletters, has published its annual listing of “most censored” stories. Project Censored compiles an annual list of 25 news stories of social significance that have been overlooked, under‑reported or self‑censored by the country’s major national news media. Between 700 and 1000 stories are submitted to Project Censored each year from journalists, scholars, librarians, and concerned citizens around the world. With the help of more than 200 Sonoma State University faculty, students, and community members, Project Censored reviews the story submissions for coverage, content, reliability of sources and national significance. The university community selects 25 stories to submit to the Project Censored panel of judges who then rank them in order of importance. Current or most previous national judges include: Noam Chomsky, Susan Faludi, George Gerbner, Sut Jhally, Judith F. Krug, Frances Moore Lappe, Norman Solomon, Michael Parenti, Herbert I. Schiller, Barbara Seaman, Erna Smith, Mike Wallace and Howard Zinn. All 25 stories censored are featured in the yearbook, Censored: The News That Didn’t Make the News. The following are the ten “most censored” stories for 2006–07 as reported in Censored stories 2008, published last Fall by Project Censored: of 2006–07 1. No Habeas Corpus for “Any Person” With the approval of Congress and no outcry from corporate media, the Military Commissions Act (MCA) signed by President Bush on October 17, 2006, ushered in military commission law for U.S. citizens and non‑citizens alike. While media, includ‑ ing a lead editorial in the New York Times have given comfort that American citizens will not be the victims of the measures legalized by this Act—such as military roundups and life‑long detention with no rights or constitutional protections—Robert Parry points to text in the MCA that allows for the institution of a military alternative to the consti‑ tutional justice system for “any person” regardless of American citizenship. The MCA effectively does away with habeas corpus rights for “any person” arbitrarily deemed (continued on page 45) Published by the ALA Intellectual Freedom Committee, Kenton L. Oliver, Chair The Making of Dr. Truelove .............................................14 in this issue Of Mice and Men .............................................................27 The Prince of Tides ..........................................................42 most censored stories of 2006–07 .....................................1 Sandpiper ...........................................................................7 Sexy ..................................................................................25 book challenges on rise in Texas .......................................3 The Tenth Circle ...............................................................37 Totally Joe ........................................................................14 librarians object to firing of archivist ................................3 Tripping Over the Lunch Lady and Other Short Stories ..............................................................................27 When I Was a Loser .........................................................39 a call to defend academic freedom ....................................4 When Will Jesus Bring the Pork Chops ...........................25 Where Willy Went .............................................................25 Yahoo! settles with Chinese journalists .............................6 periodicals crackdowns on bloggers on rise ........................................6 Kentucky Kernel [U. of Kentucky] ..................................43 Little Hawk [Iowa City H.S.] ...........................................43 censorship dateline: libraries, schools, student press, Phoenix New Times ..........................................................25 colleges and universities, broadcasting .............................7 theater from the bench: U.S. Supreme Court, secrecy ................15 Ten Little Indians .............................................................38 is it legal?: libraries, school, colleges and universities, publishing, church and state, free expression, Internet, libel ..................................................................................17 success stories: libraries, schools, colleges and universities, art .................................................................25 targets of the censor books The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn .................................7 Views of contrubutors to the Newsletter on Intellectual Freedom Beach Music .....................................................................42 are not necessarily those of the editors, the Intellectual Freedom Child of God ....................................................................41 Committee, or the American Library Association. The Chocolate War ..........................................................28 (ISSN 0028-9485) Cradle and All ..................................................................37 Everyday Mathematics .....................................................39 Newsletter on Intellectual Freedom is published bimonthly (Jan., Facts on the Ground ........................................................30 Mar., May, July, Sept., Nov.) by the American Library Association, Fair and Tender Ladies ...................................................35 50 E. Huron St., Chicago, IL 60611. The newsletter is also avail- The Giver ...........................................................................8 able online at www.ala.org/nif. Subscriptions: $70 per year (print), The Golden Compass .......................................................13 which includes annual index; $50 per year (electronic); and $85 per year (both print and electronic). For multiple subscriptions Harry Potter series ..........................................................13 to the same address, and for back issues, please contact the It’s Perfectly Normal ........................................................13 Office for Intellectual Freedom at 800-545-2433, ext. 4223 or King & King .....................................................................26 [email protected]. Editorial mail should be addressed to the Office of Jake Reinvented ...............................................................36 Intellectual Freedom, 50 E. Huron St., Chicago, Illinois 60611. Periodical postage paid at Chicago, IL at additional mailing The Last Book in the Universe ........................................10 offices. POSTMASTER: send address changes to Newsletter on The Literary Experience ..................................................29 Intellectual Freedom, 50 E. Huron St., Chicago, IL 60611. 2 Newsletter on Intellectual Freedom book challenges on rise in Texas librarians object to abrupt firing of Book challenges appear to be on the rise in Texas pub‑ West Virginia archivist lic schools after a brief dip, according to the results of a The board of the West Virginia Library Association is survey conducted by the ACLU of Texas and published as considering whether to voice the association’s concern to “Free People Read Freely: The Eleventh Annual Report on Gov. Joe Manchin about the abrupt firing November 1 of Banned and Challenged Books in Texas Public Schools.” state archivist Fred Armstrong after 22 years in that post For the 2006–07 school year, 67 school districts reported and 30 years at the archives. Although WVLA officials challenges to library books and other teaching materials, did not plan to issue any statement before their December which is 5.3% of the 1,256 public school districts in Texas. 4–5 meeting, other librarians and archives patrons across Forty percent of reported challenges resulted in bans. That the state were speaking out forcefully about the sudden figure compares to 25% for 2005–06, 44% in 2004–05, termination of Armstrong, an at‑will employee who was 36% in 2003–04, and 31% in 2000–01. given no reason for his dismissal, which was effective Sixty‑six districts reported challenges for a total of immediately. 116 items, compared to 48 districts with 65 challenges in “I realize that he’s an at‑will employee, but it just 2005–06, an increase of almost 40% in the number of dis‑ seems that overall, in everybody’s perspective that I’ve tricts reporting challenges and a significant 78% increase in talked to, he’s done a wonderful job,” Betty Gunnoe of total reported challenges. Forty percent of book challenges the Martinsburg Public Library said. “If someone’s done a (46 items) resulted in outright bans on the materials. An good job for 30 years, it makes you wonder,” Cabell County additional 32% of material was restricted in some fashion Public Library Director Judy Rule added. Characterizing the (38 items), either by putting the material in the librarian’s nature of Armstrong’s departure as “appalling and a major office, requiring parental permission, or in the case of cur‑ catastrophe,” 1997–98 West Virginia Library Association ricular material providing an alternative to the assignment. President Judith A. Duncan called for “this travesty [to] be Exactly one fourth of the challenged materials (29 thoroughly investigated and corrected” in a November 15 items) were reinstated without restrictions. Some of the letter to the Charleston Gazette. titles reported are series (groups