Insights
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…
Handling tough topics: Kirk, Kimmel and beyond
The day after Charlie Kirk was killed at Utah State, a few students in one of my classes asked for my thoughts. And while a number of people in and out of my district would say it’s inappropriate for me to answer that question – too controversial – I answered it. Because it is very…
Power to the People: Student coverage of protests (Constitution Day 2025)
Overview and Rationale The 2024-2025 school year was filled with people taking advantage of their First Amendment right to assemble, and this new year is sure to be no different. This lesson plan encourages students to consider the First Amendment’s connection to the theme of “Power to the People.” It also encourages them to read…
Shoring up the basics: Short videos for Constitution Day 2025
Tripp Robbins, MJE, created this series of bite-sized videos as an introduction to topics in student media law and ethics for the Scholastic Press Rights Committee. They can be used as part of a curriculum or just on a need-to-know basis. They’re concise and dense, so you may want to pause them to digest some…
Power to the People: Do they use that power wisely? (Constitution Day 2025)
Constitution Day 2025: Power to the People Class research activity: Do they use that power wisely? The Constitution, signed in 1787, begins with a short preamble, spelling out its intent. We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence,…
Five activities your students can do to promote Constitution Day 2025
Last year, I moved to a new school and eventually restarted its Quill & Scroll chapter. Since then, I have been brainstorming potential chapter activities. Celebrating Scholastic Journalism Week is a no-brainer – so why not also observe Constitution Day? Here are five activities your chapter – or your student media programs or even journalism…
The Constitution’s promise: E Pluribus Unum – Out of many, one (Constitution Day 2025)
How can journalists help? Overview and Rationale Constitution Day and Citizenship Day – the second part is new for 2025 — is a U.S. federal observance that honors the adoption of the United States Constitution and those who have become U.S. citizens. It is observed Sept. 17, the day delegates to the Constitutional Convention signed…
Back to school with JEA SPRC
As the new academic year begins, the JEA Scholastic Press Rights Committee extends an enthusiastic welcome back to student media advisers across the country. Your commitment to fostering responsible, ethical and courageous student journalism continues to be the cornerstone of scholastic press freedom. The 2024–2025 school year was marked by remarkable achievements and thoughtful challenges….
Now more than ever
‘The Elements of Journalism’ for student media “Now more than ever….” It’s a song title, a well-known speech to military troops, a documentary about the band Chicago, and a phrase used by those who want to emphasize the importance of something happening RIGHT NOW. And there’s certainly plenty going on in the world, in our…
Which States May Pass New Voices in 2025
Pennsylvania is making significant strides in its pursuit of New Voices legislation. It joins five other states with active bills in their state legislatures. As states gear up for their legislative sessions, a handful of New Voices teams have introduced (or reintroduced) bills to protect student journalists’ free speech rights. Eighteen states have passed New…
Navigating legal challenges: Essential advice for student journalists covering immigration
Mike Hiestand, senior legal counsel from the Student Press Law Center, talks with Diana Day from the Scholastic Press Rights Committee about what young journalists need to know about their legal rights and responsibilities when covering immigration topics. Scholastic journalists across the country are grappling with a number of ethical and logistical challenges when reporting…