The Latest – Page 84

Become involved with 1 For All

During this past week, and especially today, commercial media have carried viewpoints by and about 1 For All. 1 For All is is a national nonpartisan program designed to build understanding and support for First Amendment freedoms, providing teaching materials to the nation’s schools and supports educational events on America’s campuses. As you celebrate July 4…

1 For All

From H.L.Hall: Most of you probably are already aware that in two days 1,100 news outlets across the country will participate in an educational campaign about the First Amendment called “1 For All.” If you haven’t heard about it, this posting will serve as an announcement. It’s too bad this campaign is starting in the…

For your information

A discussion on JEA’s listserv earlier this week raised some significant questions about FOI requests to student media – and the importance of clarifying who owns the content of student media. According to Mark Goodman, Knight Chair in Scholastic Journalism at Kent State University, that situation raised an important issue for all public school-sponsored student…

Put it in writing, and then cross your fingers

After reading about the yearbook craziness in Amherst, N.H., today, I’ve been stewing over the situation. While I’m reminded of the importance of having detailed publications policies, I’m also scared to learn how quickly a school board might work to change those policies on a whim. Here’s the short version of the story: The Souhegan…

JEA joins amicus brief in censorship case

The Journalism Education Association and the National Scholastic Press Association joined with the Student Press Law Center in a case about a New York school censoring a cartoon. “If the court tells the students of Ithaca High School that they had no legally protected right to satirize the ineffectiveness of a school policy – the…

Don’t let us be misunderstood

These words from an Animals song – slightly changed to the plural – leave a message those facing censorship issues should think about over the summer. Don’t give up; don’t be misunderstood. Blatant censorship or its muted shape of prior review is still censorship. And it has no place in the education business. It can…

First Amendment Issues in Schools

Check out this website for more current First Amendment issues in schools as reported by the National School Boards Association. http://legalclips.nsba.org/?tag=first-amendment

Notable journalism issues as we prepare for summer

As we get ready for summer vacation, several First Amendment issues are worth noting. The 14-judge Third Circuit U.S. Appeals Court heard a replay of two decisions about the extent of schools’ ability to punish students for speech outside schools. The First Amendment Coalition posted coverage of the hearing. In Texas a journalism teacher resigned after administrators…

Good student work makes a difference

Student conduct in preparing controversial coverage spurred an attorney to change his mind and say he will work for a bill that protects both student journalists and their schools. Don Austin, of a law firm that currently represents Puyallup, Washington, schools and was their counsel in the recent case involving Jagwire’s coverage of oral sex,…

We must boldly move out of ‘reptilian’ mode

In my studies at the Edward R. Murrow College of Communication back in the mid-1980s and early 1990s, I remember reading a fascinating article by the respected psychologist Daniel Goleman in which he identified a dramatic shift in communication – and he related it specifically to the news media. Goleman argued that in order to…

The Right to Write

The Right to Write crew from Puyallap, Wa., was listed today in the NCTE INBOX news clips. Students Decry Censorship Student journalists in Puyallap, Washington, are fighting for “The Right to Write.” The Olympian, May 24, 2010

It takes a village…and constant vigilance

Television station KOMO recently reported the May 24 Puyallup, Washington, school board meeting where student journalists are trying to reverse the board’s prior review policies. Like the other links posted here in the last couple of days, this one can add to the First Amendment discussion, not only about the issues reported but about the comments…