First Amendment Archives

When confiscation enters the conversation

No settlement can eclipse First Amendment rights By Stan Zoller, MJE Has this ever happened to you? You’re quietly grading after school when your department chair, or worse, the principal gently taps on your door with that “do you have a minute” request. That request, it turns out, is to discuss something that was in…

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…

We tried a First Amendment song competition, and it was a hit

Finding new ways to invite dialogue about the First Amendment feels tricky sometimes, especially when veteran staff members have experienced my lessons and activities more than once. Lately I’ve tried to develop some fun and open-ended ways for students to reflect, create, share — and sometimes compete — while maintaining our commitment to celebrating student…

California 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…

The motto rings true

By Stan Zoller, MJE Ten years ago, I was finishing up my term as President of the Chicago Headline Club, the largest local SPJ chapter in the country. It was an honor to be at the helm of the club surrounded by some of the most outstanding journalists with which I had the pleasure to…

Let’s give thanks for the good stuff

By Candace Bowen, MJE Lately, so much we’ve talked about are the problems. The big topics in our daily world: censorship, budget cuts, book banning … just to name a few. But, considering the time of year, perhaps it would be good to stop and give thanks for what IS working, who IS helping and…

New 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…

Making FAPFA a tradition is a win/win

by Sarah Nichols, MJE With the constant demands of deadlines, a student newsroom rarely has downtime. Taking time to schedule what we care about is one of the only ways we can maintain traditions and designate time for staff development, service and fun. With that in mind, we added the First Amendment Press Freedom Award…

Learning 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…

What’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…