Insights

Back-to-School-Blues? Look for your why

“I’m just a teacher, standing in front of August, asking it to be July 1.” My friend and fellow press rights advocate Adriana Chavira posted that statement, which plays on the famous line from the rom-com “Notting Hill,” on social media last week, and I did the kind of laugh-sob so many teachers do this…

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World Press Day: Its freedoms ‘carry responsibility’ for us all

May 3 is World Press Freedom Day. A day to celebrate press freedom. On her Facebook post May 3, colleague Barb Hipsman Springer wrote, “as journalism goes, so goes democracy. Remember that freedoms carry responsibility for you, too.” Noble words and commitments. Such statements often receive forceful agreement. Cheers and applause. A raised fist. All…

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Student journalists can tackle current, key issues

For 19 days now, Ohioans anywhere near East Palestine, a town with close to 4,700 residents near the Pennsylvania state line, tried to grasp the Norfolk Southern train’s derailment impact on their futures and those of their town. Today, Feb. 22, Northern Ohioans and others in the proximity of railroad tracks, might have reason to…

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Watchdog Journalism: Learn About the Better Government Association (BGA)

Watchdog reporting can make a difference. When you think of watchdog reporting, chances are you’ll think of mainstream media – The Washington Post, New York Times, NPR, etc. Don’t however, look past non-profit organizations dedicated to enhancing transparency in government. The BGA staff includes a number of outstanding and award-winning journalists who do more than…

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Make time for the First Amendment

December is a busy month, I know. And things still feel slower and more difficult than our pre-pandemic student media operations. But that’s all the more reason to invest the time to discuss and apply for the First Amendment Press Freedom Award before the Dec. 15 deadline. Don’t underestimate your eligibility or feel like you “haven’t done…

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The First Amendment: A lesson from Tereza

Tereza is from the Czech Republic. Being somewhat unabashed, I quickly showed her the First Amendment printed on the back of the shirt. Her reaction? “That’s cool.” Imagine that, a young adult from a country with a history of political strife and dictatorships, thinks the First Amendment is cool. Moreso, she probably realized how important the five freedoms are…

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Constitution Day 2022

JEA’s Scholastic Press Rights Committee hopes to help you and your students celebrate their free speech rights this year. Constitution Day, observed Sept. 17 each year in commemoration of the signing of the United States Constitution, is an excellent time to do it. We have a quick court cases-review crossword to help you and your…

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Rethinking journalism as it enters a period of transition, including accuracy and truth

Given the extraordinary events of the past three years, and ones now historically burnt into community memory, student journalists’ assignment sheets must now develop new concepts of story value and focus … from context to what local means in coverage With a new school year come new friends, opportunities and responsibilities. Some are memorable, at least…

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Passion project brings forum policy, student decision making through process, trust

What a private school adviser called a “passion project” for journalism students and herself during the pandemic became a model for other schools, public and private, to work to limit the damage censorship brings to education. What they successfully developed is an example of a process designed so a school has a method to avoid…

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Why student journalists – now more than ever – need First Amendment freedoms and protections

May 1—Law Day: We watch in horror as the last flickers of a free press in Russia are snuffed out and journalists are detained and threatened, including 14 who were arrested for covering anti-war protests. Four Russian student journalists were sentenced April 12 to two years of correctional labor for questioning whether it was right for teachers to discourage students from…

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Supporting advisers, celebrating successes on Student Press Freedom Day

Today is Student Press Freedom Day, a national day of action when student journalists in the United States raise awareness of the challenges they face, celebrate their contributions to their schools and communities, and take actions to protect and restore their First Amendment freedoms. As JEA’s scholastic press rights director, I speak with many people…

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Expand coverage of issues while celebrating Student Press Freedom Day, SJW this week

Hopefully, scholastic journalism will be a week of celebration of student achievements and planned educational activities for those in various local communities. If you haven’t already engaged your communities about how national issues affect local stories, this week would be a good time to create more awareness of important local issues, some of which might…