The Latest
Decision protects students’ rights, since 1943 QT 63
Quick Hits: Student First Amendment Rights What, students have rights? Not until 1943 (West Virginia State Board of Education v. Barnette) Before the Barnette decision, when students came into conflict with public schools, the courts decided their cases—often against the students—without mentioning students’ right. They considered if the punishment was excessive. (Beating with a rawhide…
Six schools, 22 student journalists and 201 state legislators:
Lobby Day in Minnesota
by Lori Keekley, MJE I had no idea how inspired I would be by 22 students from six different schools who joined me to lobby for the New Voices legislation March 19. During the one day at the capitol, the students made signs, learned and practiced how to talk to legislators, lined the senate and…
What to tell your principal about Prior Review? QT 62
Quick Hits: Student First Amendment Rights The bad news is that administrators may legally ask to see stories before they are printed or aired, but prior review leaves them in an awkward situation, because of the good news below. The good news is that they generally cannot ask students to change anything or spike the…
Invading privacy still a concern
in today’s public world
by Candace Bowen, MJE One area of unprotected speech is getting harder to teach all the time – partly because a fair number of students and even some adults appear not to care about protecting it. “Unwarranted invasions of privacy” – one of the nine categories of speech the government can prohibit or even punish…
How two other school districts escaped lawsuits
by fostering an independent student press QT 61
Student First Amendment Rights Douglass v. Londonderry School District (2005) and Sisley v. Seattle School District (2011) Douglass v. Londonderry School District (2005) The yearbook staff at Londonderry High School in New Hampshire voted against running the photograph Blake Douglass submitted as his senior picture. The photograph showed him kneeling, a broken (open) shotgun across…
Advocacy and journalism:
coexistence or natural conflict?
by John Bowen, MJE Initially came the mass shooting of 17 students and school staff at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High in Florida. Students and scholastic media reported the issues surrounding the shootings and the followed student protests, trying to make sense of it all. Then came discussion among journalism educators about student advocacy and journalism….
Use of VR by scholastic media QT 60
Key points/action: According to its proponents, Virtual Reality offers virtual and immersive storytelling that puts audiences into the scene and enables them to feel such emotions as fear. VR, proponents say, gives people authentic reactions of those in the real situation. Commercial news media, and others,k are trying VR out across the country. Columbia…
Providing feedback QT59
Guideline: Editors should conduct relationships with staff members in a fair and professional manner. By considering the program’s best interests above matters of personality, students will be able to work together in a positive and productive environment. Social media post/question: How can peer coaching may help staffers build positive relationships. Stance: Teaching students work together…
Work with students as they select
the proper platform for content QT58
Guideline: Students should evaluate the best tool for the content it provides. Because of this, students should use processes for brainstorming and shaping the coverage that identifies how to best show the story. Student media should consistently and purposefully brainstorm what story ideas might be relevant and valuable to their audience. Students should not ignore…
Limiting student emails QT57
Guideline and policy The school can’t keep students from using email addresses they create for communications related to their student media. Nothing in Children’s Internet Protection Act (CIPA) or Children’s Online Privacy Protection Rule (COPPA) overcomes the First Amendment protections students have nor the rights they have under state law. Key points/action: Talk to the Student…
Celebrate and reflect: getting the most
out of conventions with your students
by Kristin Taylor It’s April! For student journalists and their advisers, that means it’s time for another JEA/NSPA National High School Journalism Convention. As many of us head to San Francisco Thursday, it’s a good time to think about why we attend conventions and how to get the most out of our attendance. First and…
How should student media
handle academic dishonesty? QT56
Dishonesty compromises the integrity and credibility of the student publication. The editorial board and/or adviser should address any instance of academic misconduct immediately. Student editors should develop a clear process for handling academic dishonesty. Both media staff and school policies may dictate consequences for academic dishonesty. In addition to school consequences, other approaches could include…