Pittman to Promote Free Speech Week

Clear Channel CEO to raise profile of First Amendment effort

By John Eggerton -- Broadcasting & Cable, 7/30/2012 12:28:01 PM

Bob Pittman, CEO of Clear Channel, has been named to head a new Free Speech Week advisory council.

Free Speech Week -- Oct. 22-28, 2012 -- was launched in 2005 by the Media Institute in 2005 to spotlight democracy's "most basic right."

The goal is to raise the profile of the free speech initiative. "Raising awareness of freedom of speech is a worthy and important initiative," said Pittman in a statement, "and I am happy to join with the Media Institute to increase national awareness of Free Speech Week and its role as the country's premier annual celebration of free speech."

Pittman helped create MTV and has run or operated MTV Networks, America Online, Six Flags, Quantum Media, Century 21 and AOL Time Warner.

"Bob Pittman and his colleagues on the FSW Advisory Council promise to take Free Speech Week to a whole new level of public awareness and participation," said Media Institute president Patrick Maines on the creation of the council.

The Institute has yet to identify the other members of the council, but said they would be announced "shortly."