Five schools win First Amendment Press Freedom Award

A committee with representatives of the Journalism Education Association, National Scholastic Press Association and Quill and Scroll International Honorary Society is pleased to announce the winners of the 2012 First Amendment Press Freedom Award.

The award recognizes public high schools that actively support, teach and protect First Amendment rights and responsibilities of students and teachers, with an emphasis on student-run media.

Winning schools completed two rounds of questions about prior review, student decision making and removal of Internet filters. All advisers, student editors and the principal had to fill out the applications in Round 2.

2012 First Amendment Press Freedom Award winners are as follows:

• Francis Howell North High School, St. Charles, Mo.
• Johnston (Iowa) High School
• John F. Kennedy High School, Cedar Rapids, Iowa
• Kirkwood (Mo.) High School
• Orange Glen High School, Escondido, Calif.

These schools will be honored April 12 at the opening ceremony of the JEA/NSPA Spring National High School Journalism Convention in Seattle.