JEA stands firmly behind student journalists’ press freedom. Where journalism students delve into the impact of such events as the invasion of the Capitol Jan. 6 and issues stemming from it, they create community engagement and understanding of journalistic responsibility, roles and values. Where the same students make final decisions of content without prior review and restraint, democracy’s ideals flourish and expand. We denounce all efforts to stifle student journalists, and we stand in solidarity with advisers who support them.

Constitution Day is Sept. 17

2025 Theme: Power to the People

The Scholastic Press Rights Committee has put together a set of activities and materials around the 2025 theme "Power to the People" for teachers to use in their classrooms this Constitution Day, Sept. 17. They range from full lesson plans to quick activities and ways to promote Constitution Day in your school community.

Press Rights Quick Links

Prior Review    |    Law-Ethics Manual    |    Key Cases    |    What Are Ethics     |    Tools of Truth

Making FAPFA a tradition is a win/win

by Sarah Nichols, MJE With the constant demands of deadlines, a student newsroom rarely has downtime. Taking time to schedule what we care about is one of the only ways we can maintain traditions and designate time for staff development, service and fun. With that in mind, we added the First Amendment Press Freedom Award…

Learning from others

Chancellor says IDS print version to publish until end of school year, student media action planned to seek long-term financial solution by John Bowen, MJE Reversing course Oct. 30, Indiana University administrators “will allow” student journalists to print newspaper until the end of the school year “Let me reaffirm that our commitment to a free…

What’s scarier than tales of a haunted house on Halloween?

…complete with ghosts howling and zombies grabbing for your hair? By Candace Bowen, MJE If you’ve been keeping track of news about student media, you probably know the answer: increased prior review, censorship and student journalist punishments for covering perfectly legal topics. Sometimes this has even meant removing an adviser from that position – or…

Just how free is free speech these days?

By Candace Bowen, MJE When a late-night talk show host who has been on air for two decades gets the boot (although temporarily) for content that could hardly be considered illegal, we begin to worry about our rights and our students’ rights. And probably we should. The Student Press Law Center recently reported to a…

Red Panic Button

Need help with a censorship issue? You found it.

If you are a JEA member or students of a JEA member who need assistance concerning censorship issues, use the panic button below to generate an online form to explain your situation. This will go to a Scholastic Press Rights Committee member who will assist you quickly and notify others in your state so they can offer assistance. This outreach capability is a direct result of JEA’s Adviser Assistance Program and is designed to combat censorship issues advisers and students might face.