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Ethics workshop offers videos, lesson plans
by Candace Perkins Bowen, MJE When Kent State University and The Poynter Institute team up for their annual ethics workshop, they don’t forget high school journalism teachers and students who can’t come to Ohio for a day of top speakers and plenty of exploration into some aspect of media ethics. Again this year, with…
Prepare for Free Speech Week,
Oct. 17-23
Free Speech Week (FSW) runs Oct. 17-23, and JEA’s Scholastic Press Rights Committee (SPRC) urges you to honor this cornerstone of democracy by participating either through activities shared by Free Speech Week, ones the SPRC developed or by ones your and your students created. Free Speech Week (FSW) is a yearly event to raise public awareness of the importance of free…
Showcase principles of Constitution Day,
apply for this year’s FAPFA Awards
Constitution Day focused student journalists on power of free expression for scholastic media. Your students can continue to recognize the importance of First Amendment practices and policies – and be recognized for it – by applying for this year’s FAPFA award. This First Amendment Press Freedom Award recognizes high schools that actively support, teach and protect First Amendment rights and responsibilities…
The importance of student free expression
and widespread information on legislation
As journalism teachers, we know our students learn more when they make publication choices. Prior review or restraint does not teach students to produce higher quality journalism. As journalism teachers, we know the only way to teach students to take responsibility for their decisions is to give them the responsibility to make those decisions freely….
Student free expression resources
Comments from an administrator on the importance of student free expression SPRC Foundations package (mission, policy, ethics, manual) JEA Adviser Code of Ethics Press Rights Minute Seeking to cure the Hazelwood Blues Constitution Day lessons and activities
Talking Points about student free expression
Talking Points and terminology related to free expression legislation With legislation giving students decision-making power over their student media comes questions about roles, purpose and standards. If the school cannot make content decisions who is responsible? What is the role of the adviser? Of students? If the adviser cannot control content, what guidelines will students…
Tips for reaching out to communities
for info on student free expression
Steps students and advisers can use to help others understand the importance and need for student and free student expression With new legislation, or attempts to pass it, comes the need for ways to engage those who would support it. The ways can run from concept to concrete and can be delivered in many approaches…
What to do if school officials
threaten censorship after legislation
What to do if school officials threaten censorship Even though state legislation can provide protection, sometimes others do not understand that and need further education. Use a friendly and informative approach and help them understand. Here are some steps we recommend. Share a copy of the law and explain the language and meanings in educational civic…
Our right to comment
Our right to comment Description Since media organizations have moved to online formats, they have struggled with the practice of hosting online comments next to their content. Many news organizations require posters to meet specific standards, moderate the comments, and reserve the right to remove or delete comments and users. Some organizations even require each…
Analyzing how ‘facts’ are used by politicians
during the election cycle
Analyzing how “facts” are used by politicians during the election cycle Description Sometimes politicians misconstrue facts during debates and political ads. This lesson examines the “truthiness” of the ads running currently. Students will analyze one from the Democratic and one from the Republican party. Students could look at a TV ad, online ad or print…
Why protecting student free expression is important
Students and advisers in states with recent freedom of expression legislation may want to inform their communities of educational rationale for the legislation. Additionally, those states working to pass such legislation might want to use the same points to gain support. How free expression legislation provides value to: Students who can more effectively — Demonstrate…
State legislation provides additional protections for student expression
by Mark Goodman Although many educators and advocates think of the First Amendment (and the court decisions interpreting it) as the most important tool for interpreting student press rights, there is another equally important source of law: state statutes. As of September 2016, 10 state legislatures have enacted statutory protections for high school students’ free…