Law & Ethics

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Litigating Social Media Platforms: Editorial Judgment and the First Amendment

Currently, there are major legal battles over who has the right to regulate content on social media. Should companies make decisions about what to publish or have the ability to limit what goes out on their platforms? Or should government have the ability to determine which companies are protected by the First Amendment and to what extent? 

AI, Fair Use and the First Amendment

Writers are on strike in Hats against AI companies, and students will consider what’s at stake.

Gauging Community Attitudes Towards First Amendment Rights

The Knight Foundation surveys teens and teachers’ attitudes towards freedom of speech. Gauge your community’s attitudes towards first amendment rights as you prepare to advocate for the first amendment.

Media, Free Speech, and The Paradox of Democracy

“It’s better to think of democracy less as a government type and more as an open communicative culture.” Media and free speech can both nurture and hinder democratic practice, according to The Paradox of Democracy.

Get Journalists Engaged with their Code of Ethics

This activity, which can be completed in person or remotely, is a simple discussion post in response to the code using your school’s LMS, an online platform such as Padlet or even old fashioned posters and sticky notes.

Voting, Voice and the Constitution

This lesson provokes analysis of primary documents (including historical newspapers), challenges students to consider voting rights in contemporary contexts, and encourages them to consider relationships between voice, activism, the press and voting.

Expanding the First Amendment: State Laws and Student Voice

This lesson is intended to help students gain a better understanding of how state laws may expand student press rights beyond the First Amendment, as limited by Hazelwood v. Kuhlmeier. Students will use SPLC.org to research their state’s status to see if it already has a New Voices law or an active New Voices campaign. 

Protecting Student Voices Trivia

Get your students competing to test their knowledge of specific laws, court cases that shape their speech and publication rights at school and the resources available to them.

Protest and the First Amendment

In this lesson, students will be able to review examples of protest coverage and best practices and apply this knowledge to a variety of protest coverage scenarios.

Copyright Basics

This online lesson helps students independently learn the basics of copyright law and the exceptions to it. After a brief tutorial, students will then either draw or create an online infographic explaining what they have learned. 

Copyright Rubric

Basic Libel Law

This online lesson guides students through the basics of libel law and the specifics of how it applies to real-world situations. It includes a brief instructional video, a quiz for understanding, and a discussion/writing prompt.

Prior Review and Prior Restraint

This online lesson guides students through the basics of prior review and prior restraint and the specifics of how it applies to student media.

Forum Status of Student Media

This online lesson guides students through the basics of forum status for student media and the specifics of how it applies to student media. A statement of forum status is an essential part of a staff manual.

Rubric for Student Media Manual Assignment

Scenarios to Help Teach Law and Ethics Remotely

Topics covered in this lesson include both legal and ethical concerns such as copyright, photo ethics, basic reporting, takedown requests, etc.

Understanding the First Amendment and Student Press Rights

This lesson provides details and background on Freedom of Speech Rights, what rights student journalists generally possess, gives resources for understanding how any local policies affect those rights and supplies scenarios and links for further discussion.

Understanding and Promoting Student Press Rights

This lesson provides details and background on what rights student journalists generally possess, gives resources for understanding how any local policies affect those rights and supplies scenarios and links to promote further discussion.

Free Speech vs. Hate Speech: What is Protected?

In the United States, the First Amendment protects freedom of speech. But what about hate speech? Should certain ideas and messages be silenced?

Tinker v. Des Moines: A Legacy for the Nation (Taking action on Student Press Freedom Day)

Students will learn about the Tinker vs. Des Moines U. S. Supreme Court case and its legacy for both students and teachers. The lesson is anchored in a short video and subsequent class discussion.

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