First Amendment Expert and Freedom Forum director to speak on secrecy, security in Springfield Nov. 5

Paul K. McMasters, an expert on First Amendment and freedom-of-information issues, will discuss “Secrecy versus Security: Can Democracy Function in the Dark?” at Drury’s Diversity Center at 7 p.m. on Nov. 5.

The Center is the historical Washington Avenue Baptist Church now situated on the Drury campus.

McMasters began his journalism career at the News-Leader in 1960, working his way up to editor of the morning paper over the next 19 years.

He went to USA TODAY in 1982 and worked there until he moved to the Freedom Forum in 1992 as executive director of the First Amendment Center at Vanderbilt University in Nashville, where he worked to educate and inform about First Amendment issues that arise in Congress, the courts, the media, and other areas of public life.

This program is co-sponsored by Peace Network of the Ozarks, the Diversity Center, and Drury University Pre-Law Program. It is free and open to the public.