Insights
Charles E. Smith Jewish Day School Policy Statement of Policy on Student Media
The Lion’s Tale – Press Rights Protocol I. Introduction/Statement of Policy Freedom of expression and press freedom are fundamental values in a democratic society. As an educational institution committed to preparing engaged and responsible citizens, the Charles E. Smith Jewish Day School believes in teaching students these values, both by lesson and by example. CESJDS…
Turn that mic back on! Student Journalists and Self-censorship
Having a principal censor a student media article is bad, but there’s something worse. It may start with an administrator’s polite suggestions to reporters not to “make the school look bad.” It may involve only slightly veiled threats about not being about to write an editor’s college recommendation letters. Or it may just be the…
The threat of self-censorship: Often intangible, but still important to address
As scholastic journalism advisers, prevention of overt censorship from school administration is at the forefront of our fight for scholastic press rights – and should be. But in a scholastic setting, self-censorship is also a problem, arguably even more common than direct censorship. Whether caused by the chilling effects of previous censorship, by the pressure of prior review…
Changes to traditional news access create potential barriers at all levels of reporting
A move by the leadership in the Iowa state senate to prohibit journalists from working on the floor has implications far beyond the Des Moines statehouse. Student journalists, whether at the collegiate or scholastic level, need to keep an eye open for similar moves. According to a report in the Cedar Rapids Gazette: “…Republican leaders in…
Creating inquiring minds or censoring them? Book banning, racism and gender politics
A divided nation faces book and curriculum censorship, plus moves to prohibit discussion of anti-racist ideas in schools Can you teach controversial books in your class? I always warn my students how dangerous question leads are and how a wrong answer can scare a reader away. But the question you just read is now my…
Journalism teachers: Start 2022 with a scholastic press rights refresh
The first few weeks of a new semester provide an important reset or blank slate. After a challenging fall for advisers, your goal may be to revisit scholastic press rights topics and do more with law and ethics training, especially if the past few months of reteaching and rebuilding called for massive shifts in your…
New Jersey becomes 15th New Voices state
New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy has signed into law S108, making New Jersey the 15th state to adopt New Voices legislation restoring and protecting student press freedom. The Student Press Law Center, the Garden State Scholastic Press Association and the Journalism Education Association commend the New Jersey legislature and Governor Murphy for their unanimous support…
Breaking news is daunting, chaotic; focusing on ‘A-game’ is right
To many journalists, the “rush” of a breaking news story is like no other feeling as journalistic instincts kick in at a moment’s notice. Whether it’s an international, national, regional or local story, covering breaking news requires journalists to resort back to those A-game skills they learned as a student journalist. It also entails an…
Whose values? Social media algorithms and readership
Which shall shape journalism’s future? Values established by algorithms? Clickbait? Media revitalized by required journalism in schools? Democracy may hinge on which society values “Everyone is so friggin’ crazy! I’m going to quit reading the news and unsubscribe from everything,” a friend said to me. I asked what caused her despair. She is an intelligent…
It is time for student watchdogs to go to work: Racism, sexism and what is taught in schools
It’s happening in Ohio – and 26 other states. Even if it’s not in yours yet, chances are it will be. And chances are it may also impact the kinds of stories your student journalists can write. Under the guise of ensuring what’s taught in schools isn’t “divisive” or wouldn’t “sow unrest,” more than half…
Transparency helps keep air in the balloon
Al McGuire, the late basketball coach at Marquette University, used to remind folks that championship basketball wasn’t all “seashells and balloons.” I suppose you could apply that to just about anything – life, final exams, losing a close game or even journalism. No matter how many laws are passed, policies adopted and awards won, getting…
Active censorship or community protection? An LGBTQ friendly play
Two Ohio high schools have now canceled fall productions of the same LGBTQ-themed play Two points. Two Ohio public school systems. The first point is about two student performances of ‘She Kills Monsters’ killed this fall. Students at Hillsboro High School in southwestern Ohio faced the news of the play’s cancellation after rehearsals had begun,…