The Red and Black

Issue date: 11/14/07 Section: News

LOMONTE

A University School of Law grad was named executive director of a national legal-assistance agency for student journalists.

Frank D. LoMonte - a 2000 magna cum laude law graduate - will take the reins of the Student Press Law Center on Jan. 2, 2008.

He replaces long-time director Mark Goodman, who took the position of Knight Chair in Scholastic Journalism at Kent State University's journalism school.

"Free speech is not just important to the practice of journalism, it's important to the practice of citizenship," said LoMonte, who will leave his attorney's job at Sutherland Asbill & Brennan LLP in Atlanta to work at the center just outside Washington, D.C.

LoMonte was tapped for the position after consideration of nearly two dozen applicants and a half dozen finalists, according to Mike Hiestand, the interim executive director who was active in the search process.

LoMonte is a member of the center's Attorney Referral Network, a group of attorneys who offer services to student journalists on a pro bono basis, and said he applied for the position of executive director in August. He learned of his selection in October after completing several rounds of interviews.

"It was very unexpected," he said. "The good thing is because I've done volunteer work in this field, I've never really gone stale on media law."

Prior to attending law school, LoMonte was a reporter with The Florida Times-Union in Jacksonville, Fla., and worked several other jobs for Morris Communications, the Times-Union's Augusta-based parent company.

Reporting on health care fraud required LoMonte to use open records laws and other laws, which gave him an excellent background in journalism law, he said.

"I think the experience with using those laws ... is a unique qualification for helping people as a legal advisor to understand those laws," he said. "I understand what reporters and student journalists are dealing with."

LoMonte received his bachelor's degree from Georgia State University in 1994 and attended the University of Florida, where he was editor-in-chief of the student newspaper.

As executive director, LoMonte hopes to continue the educational programs offered by the Student Press Law Center while expanding the organization's ties in the legal community. He also wants to expand attempts to advocate for student press rights at the state level.

"It seems like we've forgotten that the press is supposed to be on our side," Hiestand said. "The enthusiasm that I think he brings to the position is one of the big things that we're looking forward to."

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