The Latest – Page 91

Follow along with the Nebraska legislation for free expression

Those interested in a bit of real life government in action can follow the introduction of the Nebraska free expression legislation on Twitter at #LB898. Follow along and see what is happening compared to legislation efforts in other states by comparing Nebraska’s bill with those of other states by using the SPLC library. Nebraska’s bill…

Nebraskan free expression bill gets public hearing Tuesday

According to a news flash from the Student Press Law Center , Nebraska Sen. Ken Haar’s student freedom of expression bill, LB 898, will get a public hearing Tuesday. The SPLC reports the proposed bill would prevent schools from restricting speech unless it is defamatory, obscene or otherwise unprotected by the First Amendment. Here is link…

Help us know where open forums, censorship exist

In light of recent censorship situations around the country, especially Stevenson High in Illinois and Timberland High in Missouri, please help the JEA’s Scholastic Press Rights Commission expand its outreach to those facing censorship issues. We also want to celebrate student media operating as open forums for student expression. • If your student media has…

First reactions not always the right one

Upon reading the story John posted above, my first reaction was one of sadness, probably with a dash of anger thrown in. I’m not sure why. I think maybe it was because some students who were practicing journalism at a very high level were going to no longer have that chance. Or maybe my initial…

Stevenson editors quit

Five Stevenson High newspaper editors quit Jan. 19, according to a story at Chicago Breaking News. “I’d rather practice no journalism than journalism that doesn’t follow with my ethics and what I believe in,” ex-editor Pam Selman is quoted. A district spokesman said administrators were disappointed with the decision and defended the school’s efforts to…

How do your students report the Haiti earthquake?

News about the Haiti earthquake dominated the media today, and some scholastic journalists are trying to find ways to report the devastation and loss of life. Questions they should consider include: • How can we localize and show readers relevance? That should be among the first concerns. What is the best way to bring the…

A great day

Yesterday was a great day for scholastic journalism. It was a great day because California Senate Bill 438 passed its Senate Judiciary Committee hearing 5-0 and now goes to Senate Appropriations Committee for consideration. As you probably know, California Educational Code already protects student expression. SB 438 simply clarifies current law (48907) adding “charter schools”…

Five freedoms contest available

Check out the Five Freedoms PSA Contest. Entries must be received by February 19, 2010. To be eligible for the early bird prize of $100, students must submit their entries by February 2, 2010. For more information, visit our Five Freedoms Contest page.

People and issues in a world of journalism

After spending four days at the Poynter Institute In St. Petersburg, Florida, I have a number of journalism issues on my mind: • AEJMC Scholastic Journalism Division’s vice head David Bulla publishes a blog called The First Amendment. It presents a wide variety of issues and topics and is worthy of a visit and your…

Scholastic Press Student Partners

It’s a new year — heck, a new decade — so what better time to announce a new way to support scholastic press rights. JEA’s Scholastic Press Rights Commission (SPRC) is excited to introduce a group called Scholastic Press Student Partners. Another group? Surely you’ve got questions. We’ve got answers: Q: What will Student Partners…

Carrying on the fight: how to begin

Friends of the Spoke is an amazing resource. The students launched it as an informational site about the proposed policy changes. They interviewed and posted that information. They sought community letters to the board in support of the Spoke. And others can use it, as well as some of the tactics mentioned earlier to model…

Fighting the fight is a student-driven process: Part 2

Even though a fight against censorship is rooted in emotion, that emotion cannot direct the fight, 2009 JEA High School Journalist of the Year Henry Rome said. Neither should the adviser. Frank LoMonte, executive director of the Student Press Law Center, said the adviser’s role is to prepare students ahead of time why press freedoms…