Press under pressure requires resilience in action
The theme for JEA’s Scholastic Journalism Week Feb. 23 – 27, 2026 is “Press Under Pressure.” How does student media react when those with more power – administrators and even community members – apply pressure to restrict and control what students feel is important to publish? The fourth day of the week is SPLC’s Student…
Read MoreCalifornia student media cases: Judge affirms protections
On Jan. 28, 2026, student journalists and advisers got a “major win for student journalists,” according to the Student Press Law Center. It’s a big deal. California’s laws that protect students’ First Amendment rights to free expression were affirmed, and school administrators who would try to justify silencing students were politely slapped. What happened in…
Read MoreNew Jersey student advocacy affects district New Voices policy
By Tom McHale As I was setting up for my session on New Voices at last year’s Garden State Scholastic Press Association’s Fall Conference, the Rutgers University lecture-style room was full of students to see ABC 7 Morning News’ Traffic Anchor Heather O’Rourke. A stream of students headed toward the door, while others lined up…
Read MoreLearning from others
Chancellor says IDS print version to publish until end of school year, student media action planned to seek long-term financial solution by John Bowen, MJE Reversing course Oct. 30, Indiana University administrators “will allow” student journalists to print newspaper until the end of the school year “Let me reaffirm that our commitment to a free…
Read MoreWhat’s scarier than tales of a haunted house on Halloween?
…complete with ghosts howling and zombies grabbing for your hair? By Candace Bowen, MJE If you’ve been keeping track of news about student media, you probably know the answer: increased prior review, censorship and student journalist punishments for covering perfectly legal topics. Sometimes this has even meant removing an adviser from that position – or…
Read MoreHandling tough topics: Kirk, Kimmel and beyond
The day after Charlie Kirk was killed at Utah State, a few students in one of my classes asked for my thoughts. And while a number of people in and out of my district would say it’s inappropriate for me to answer that question – too controversial – I answered it. Because it is very…
Read MoreAmerica is…
“The one thing that I think is vital — our most important obligation,” Mark Goodman, former Executive Director of the Student Press Law Center and of the Center of Scholastic Journalism at Kent State University, said. “We HAVE to teach students that censorship is wrong, morally, educationally, journalistically, even when it cannot be avoided or…
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