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Achieving ethical fitness is key journalistic tool

Evaluating Ethical Fitness, Red and Green Light Approaches “To be a journalist, ethics must be a part of you — not a page in a book or framed parchment on a wall.” – Gerald M. Sass, The Freedom Forum The above statement by Gerald M. Sass really sets the stage for the mission, goals and evidence…

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Class activities, lesson plan for Student Press Freedom Day

With little more than a month to plan, it’s time to think of the best way to celebrate Student Press Freedom Day, Feb. 22, 2024. For this sixth annual event, the Student Press Law Center announced its theme as “Powerfully Persistent.” Who best embodies that description? And, yet, who is most likely to have that action squashed?…

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West Virginia makes it 17 New Voices states

West Virginia became the seventeenth state to pass New Voices legislation March 23. The new law, The Student Journalist Press Freedom Act, goes into effect June 9, 2023. In a March 24 press release, the Student Press Law Center indicated a key part of the law ensures that high school and college students determine the…

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Be Bold 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. The theme this year is Bold Journalism, Brave Advocacy. I can’t…

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When the New Voices Law becomes a liabullyity

Victory is sweet. Whether on the football field, baseball field, soccer field or in the legislature. It’s always great to win one for the ‘Gipper’ – or whomever. When it comes to New Voices laws, the victors are student journalists. In those states where New Voices laws have been passed, scholastic journalism programs are experiencing…

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What’s old is still new: Hamilton Federalist essay No. 84

Hawaii is the sixteenth state to pass New Voices protection recently. The task to protect all student news media is not new and is unfinished. The signing in Hawaii is a huge success, but there is still a long way to go. Today’s students represent a new generation, but their voices aren’t new – they’re…

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Administrators suggest advisers pull edit as disruptive, negative and not what school wants

Author says censored editorial presents a factual, legal case against policy changes Administrators say the editorial is disruptive, negative toward school administrators and not conducive to the school’s view of what a student-led newspaper should accomplish Press lawyer says editorial is not disruptive to school environment Administrators at Texas High School in Texarkana, Texas, this…