Timothy Smith holds a MA in Journalism from Ohio State University and a J.D. from the School of Law at the University of Akron. He is the founder and director of the Ohio Center for Privacy and the First Amendment, which specializes in access-to-government issues. He is also the legal adviser for all student media on campus. Timothy Smith's areas of interest include media relations, libel, invasion of privacy and public records issues. He is a founding member of the National Freedom of Information Coalition. In 1996, he was given the John S. Knight award for excellence in the service of journalism by the Buckeye Chapter of the Society for Professional Journalists. He was given a Distinguished Teaching Award by the KSU Foundation and Alumni Association.