This issue of the "Freedom of Speech Newsletter" contains three articles. "Big Brother, 1976--Judges and the Gag Order" by Miles Clark examines constitutional censorship of the media and government secrecy. "Democratic Rights: A Socialist View" by Kipp Dawson argues that "the rulers of the United States have never granted the American people any…

As an early product of the National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE) Committee on Public Doublespeak, this publication seeks both to provide teachers of English and speech already concerned about the social effects of language with current studies on the subject and to persuade other colleagues of the importance of preparing students to cope…

Based on questionnaires sent to a random sample of 140 debate coaches in Kansas in December 1973, three aspects of Kansas high school debate programs--general characteristics of programs active in debate, budget characteristics of these programs, and general characteristics of the professional staff associated with the programs--are examined. Ten…

Materials in this bibliography concerning rhetoric and public address appeared in publications on speech communication and contiguous areas during 1972 (unless otherwise indicated). Entries are divided into four categories: bibliography, ancient era (history and culture, theory, and practitioners and theorists), medieval and renaissance era…

In a 1968 address, Franklyn S. Haiman stated that public discourse at that time was marked by irrationality because of emphases on emotional appeals, disorganization, and aggressive or abusive style and language. He also cited "body rhetoric" (lawful protests or marches) and civil disobedience (illegal actions) as examples of irrational arguments.…

This study, which used systematic desensitization (SD) behavior therapy to reduce anxieties associated with giving speeches, was based on the hypothesis that subjects given SD therapy five times in 1 week (massed training) would achieve greater reduction of communication anxiety than would subjects treated once a week for 5 weeks (spaced…

While investigating materials for a new course at City College of New York dealing with the rhetoric of women activists, women who were previously actively involved in the "political scene" were asked to respond to the question, "Does the fact that you are a women affect the content, delivery, or reception of your ideas by the audiences you have…

Suggestions and recommendations for directors include ways to effectively manage conflict among employees; avoid "thinking traps"; disagree with the boss; and handle bold or aggressive employees. Tips on training and speechmaking and advice about raising program rates are also presented. (Author/BB)

Indicates that corporate speechwriters actively seek to identify possible speech issues for their organizations' spokespersons, often helping to build clients' speech agendas. Suggests that the "Strategic Issues Management" (SIM) model can be useful to practitioners and students of policy speechwriting/spokesmanship by providing the…

Uses recent work in literary criticism to examine the structure of religious discourse. Suggests religious discourse is the use of a certain rhetorical style that conforms to certain rules of underlying structure, but which communicates only to the extent that this structure is appropriate for the application in question. (MS)

Indicates that situational factors such as perceived novelty, subordinate status, conspicuousness, dissimilarity and prior history correlate significantly with public speaking anxiety. Presents a causal model based on a confluence of previous research and the results of the present study. Includes classroom implications.(NH)

Reviews John P. Ryan's contributions to the speech communication profession. Discusses the following aspects of his method of public speaking, notable for its imaginative planning: (1) his insistence upon preparation, good thinking, good speech content; (2) his attention to delivery; repetition, organization, mnemonic words; and (3) his abundance…

Examines presidential primary debates from four perspectives: history, politics, public interest, and television. Argues that, to fulfill their potential for informed public discussion, debate sponsors must refine and adapt their formats to the television medium while still serving the interests of the public and the candidates. (JD)

Describes a course developed by a speech instructor and instructional librarian at Spoon River College, Illinois, to foster the students' ability to orally present information in a coherent and understandable fashion and their ability to access information effectively. (CBC)

Results indicated that at the outset of a semester public speaking course, the PRCA-24 and the general anxiety measure predicted the anxiety experienced by college students with equal power, but by the end of the semester the PRCA-24 was clearly superior in predicting self-reported anxiety. (PD)