Media advisory: Experts available to discuss the First Amendment and social media, impeachment

January 11, 2021

Media advisory: Experts available to discuss the First Amendment and social media, impeachment

Southern Illinois University Carbondale experts can assist reporters and news crews with perspective on constitutional issues involving the First Amendment and social media platforms and calls for President Trump’s impeachment.

These experts – from the SIU School of Law and Paul Simon Public Policy Institute – with contact information to arrange for interviews, include:

• Steven J. Macias, associate dean and associate professor in the SIU School of Law, has taught constitutional law and First Amendment privacy. He is available to discuss the internet and social media laws relating to President Trump being banned from various platforms. He is available for on-camera or Zoom interviews and can be reached at smacias@siu.eduor 618-536-8464.

• Sheila Simon, assistant professor in the SIU School of Law, returned to the university after serving as Illinois’ lieutenant governor from 2011 to 2015. She has taught classes on government ethics. Prior to her work at the law school, she was an assistant state’s attorney in Jackson County. She can be reached at ssimon@siu.edu and is available to talk in person or via Zoom.

• John T. Shaw, director of the Paul Simon Public Policy Institute, spent 26 years in Washington, D.C., covering Congress and economic issues for Market News International before his arrival at SIU Carbondale in 2018. He has been a guest on the PBS NewsHour and C-SPAN. He can be reached at 618-453-4009 or shaw@siu.edu.