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J programs deserve saving
Budget concerns are causing schools all over the country to cut one of the programs where students learn the most, journalism. Isn’t learning by students the primary goal of schools? Students in publication classes learn not only writing skills, they learn to work as a team to produce a publication. They learn to work with…
School Publications Become School History
Recently my husband and I attended his high school class reunion.. Everyone was glad to see old friends especially those who had traveled across the country to attend. These reunions are something you high school students can’t really imagine, but you need to take care. Reunions always feature a memorabilia table covered with all sorts…
And the number keeps growing
As much as we don’t want to see it or accept it, the number of student media being restrained grows rapidly. For instance: • In Boonville, Mo, the superintendent stopped distribution of The Pirate Press reportedly because the paper had not been reviewed as it was supposed to be. Coverage in the local paper did…
Social networking policies: Getting ahead of the curve
By Russell Hickey When the Washington Post recently announced new rules for the use of social media by editors and staff, it was met with some criticism. Last week, Howard Kurtz chronicled the reactions – both negative and positive. The full-text announcement sent to the Post staff was reprinted by paidContent. The policy behind the…
Fighting off prior review
With examples of administrator censorship running rampant around the country, I thought it might be informative and helpful for other teachers, who may run into similar situations, to speak with a teacher who just successfully fought off censorship from the higher-ups at her school. Konnie Krislock has been teaching journalism since the late 1960s and…
Hello? Anyone out there?
When the JEA Scholastic Press Rights Commission chair* nudged that group into the blogosphere and encouraged its members to volunteer to post on certain days, I said, “Sure.” Writing I like. Writing means I’m not cleaning the kitchen or grading freshman orientation papers. Besides, the First Amendment soapbox is a good vantage point. But….is anyone…
Disturbing trends and a series worth reading
Even as some administrators name themselves editors of student publications, others try to use ethics as a guideline for punishment, adding another level to disturbing trends in scholastic journalism. This misuse of ethical standards in scholastic journalism is the focus on a three-part series by Kent State University graduate student Trevor Ivan at the Center…
Our Constitution is “America’s Best Idea”
My husband and I have been watching the PBS special entitled “Our National Parks, America’s Best Idea.” Obviously, they are not “America’s Best Idea,” but they are the result of the true best idea, a nation created by the people, of the people, for the people. Ken Burns’ wonderful documentary tells the history of the…
Let’s play a game? Who is the editor? And why?
Recent events in a Virginia school system could lead to a new game: Who is the editor? Over the summer school officials made the principal the editor of student publications and the adviser the co-editor. The school board followed recommendations of the Virginia School Boards Association. So now for some questions in the game: Q:…
The worst legal problem in scholastic media
“What’s the legal problem you fear the most?” That’s always the first writing assignment for JMC47003, the Teaching High School Journalism class at Kent State. Students are Integrated Language Arts majors….and most would rather die than teach journalism. The class is a requirement, but they see only Shakespeare and poetry in their futures. So what…
Thoughts on the future of scholastic journalism
What skills will citizens need in a future that requires deciphering information and communicating effectively? How can schools and their attitude towards the use of new and social media make a difference? As the journalism concepts we teach expand to include new and social media, will our “fourth estate” guidelines maintain a foothold in the…
National Punctuation Day: Commas combat censorship
It may not seem like National Punctuation Day has much to do with press rights, but before dismissing it as just a lot of dots and dashes and English-class concerns, think about it for a minute. First, some background…. Thursday, Sept. 24 is this year’s event, celebrated since 2004 when former newspaperman Jeff Rubin, as…