Insights

Prior review imposes ineffective educational limits on learning, citizenship

by John Bowen, MJEUnbelievably, prior review seems to be spreading. It occurred recently in Illinois, California, Ohio, Texas and numerous additional states. It shows no signs of slowing, despite efforts to pass state legislation to protect student expression. To read about California review and restraint demands, go here. To read the articles in question go…

Insights

New Year brings hope for New Voices Law

by Jackie Mink, JEA Emeritus Member This past January, I saw television reports about members of the United States Congress being sworn in for this new year. I also saw this happening with the Missouri legislature, which is the state where I live. New sessions makes me think of the New Voices of Missouri legislation, a movement to guarantee…

Insights

Contests should stress how to be journalists as much as they do winning

by Stan Zoller, MJEThe late sports writer Jerome Holtzman penned a book, “No Cheering in the Press,” which is a collection of fascinating tales by some legendary sports scribes. In the book, the scribes describe the ascent to the top of the craft to cover some of the nation’s most famous, if not infamous, sports…

Insights

When is free speech not so free?

by Candace Bowen, MJEIf it seems too good to be true, it probably is. That may be a cliché, but it’s often spot on. And no more so than news lately of various orders and state legislation and school policies seeming to promote free speech. That’s a great idea, right? Well, maybe not. And…

Insights

Hardly any confidence

Scholastic journalists must seize the opportunity to improve confidence in media by CyndiCrothers-Hyatt A recent national poll conducted by the Columbia Journalism Review asked Americans about their confidence in the press. It’s no surprise that in our country’s current climate there is a level of distrust of the media among Americans. But the results were…

Insights

SPRC has wealth of information to share

by John Bowen, MJE It seems advisers and students nationwide face more questions recently about law and ethics. Questions have dealt with unnamed sources, takedown requests and yearbook ethics among others. We assist our followers with more than resources and examples. While our team at the Scholastic Press Rights Committee respond quickly and authoritatively we,…

Insights

Celebrating Student Press Freedom Day, 50 years of student rights

by Lori Keekley, MJE SPRC members have been working to amass several resources for you as we kick off our celebration of the Tinker anniversary with Student Press Freedom Day. The goal is to keep celebrating Student Press Freedom Day daily leading up to the 50th anniversary of the Tinker decision. What’s new Need a…

Insights

A pillar of strength: the Tinker decision

Lessons: What’s in Your State Press Law?, by John Bowen and Lori Keekley: As New Voices laws spread across the country to protect student journalists, help your students understand what their state does or does not cover when it comes to student press rights. Students will examine their own law and create a dialogue with…

Insights

Proactivity can help face a challenge

by Stan Zoller,MJE Watch just about any team sporting event and at some point, there will be challenge to a call. Or challenge to the rules. It’s no different with some scholastic journalism programs. Despite New Voices laws in 14 states, and bills introduced in three others, challenges to the rules, or in this case…

Insights

Truthtelling vs Storytelling: Some of you aren’t going to like this

by Candace Bowen, MJE Yes, it’s true. I’m going to question a concept scholastic media latched onto and often treats like the solution to all media problems. We got it from commercial media and have adopted it passionately: It’s storytelling. And, yes, it certainly has some value, but it has some pitfalls we and our…

Insights

A (written) step toward more faculty support

by Lindsay Coppens In good times and bad times, having faculty support can go a long way in ensuring student press rights. Towards the beginning of each year, but sometimes when we’re nearing the end of semester one, I send an email to the faculty and staff to thank them for their support, to reinforce…

Insights

Arkansas student journalists lose publishing rights, regain them, support from other journalists

by Jackie Mink, JEA Emeritus member A recent challenge in Arkansas left a high school’s newspaper censored and prior review started. With support from other scholastic and professional journalism organizations, the school newspaper has now been allowed to publish. I thought of a line in my favorite book “To Kill a Mockingbird”recently. It was in…