MANCHESTER — The Nackey S. Loeb School of Communications seeks to honor New Hampshire residents who have worked to protect free speech and free press.

Nominations are open for the school's tenth annual First Amendment Award, honoring diligence in protecting free press and free speech liberties. Recipients will be recognized this fall at a gala awards event Nov. 29 at the Capitol Center for the Arts in Concord.

Recipients are chosen from citizen nominations. They receive a limited edition bronze eagle sculpture created by Mrs. Loeb and a $1,500 award.

Award details and nomination forms are available at www.loebschool.org or by calling the school at 627-0005. The deadline for nominations is Sept 16.

The award and the school are legacies of the late Nackey S. Loeb, president and publisher of the New Hampshire Union Leader and Sunday News.

Past recipients include former New Hampshire Attorney General Philip McLaughlin, former Keene Sentinel Executive Editor Thomas F. Kearney, The Laconia Citizen, political activist and former legislator Daniel Hughes, Dover City Councilor David Scott, Londonderry High School Journalism Advisor Mary Lukas, First Amendment attorney William Chapman, ConVal School Board member Gail Pierson Cromwell and The Portsmouth Herald.