Transparency helps keep air in the balloon
Al McGuire, the late basketball coach at Marquette University, used to remind folks that championship basketball wasn’t all “seashells and balloons.” I suppose you could apply that to just about anything – life, final exams, losing a close game or even journalism. No matter how many laws are passed, policies adopted and awards won, getting…
Read MoreNew Voices Laws may bring new challenges
As the pandemic lingers and school districts ping-pong back and forth between at-home learning, in-school learning and hybrid learning, one thing hasn’t changed. Laws governing student expression. Fourteen states already have laws that protect the First Amendment rights of student journalists and, reports the Student Press Law Center, laws have been introduced or reintroduced in…
Read MoreHaving supportive administrators is not a fairytale
by Teresa Scribner, CJE, Cleveland STEM High School Seattle, Washington Once upon a time, there were three administrators. These warriors stood for racial equality, social justice and making sure all students in their school felt safe, seen and heard. They were champions of student voice, advocates of the school’s journalism program and defenders of student…
Read MoreConstitution Day 2020
In a unique year featuring not only a world-wide pandemic but also mass protests, a presidential election and plenty of attempts at spreading misinformation, it’s as important as ever for students to understand their rights. Constitution Day, observed Sept. 17 each year, celebrates the signing of the United States Constitution, and provides a perfect opportunity…
Read MorePart 1: Riding out the storm to save stories only you can do best
Unfortunately, the pandemic is the perfect storm for high school media. Students have important stories only they can tell, but administrators really don’t want all these stories out there. On top of that, some admins are already finding ways to hamper reporting – or stop it altogether. Being aware of these tactics and knowing how…
Read MoreHelp administrators know what N.V. (New Voices Law) means
by Stan Zoller, MJE When you see the letters “N.V.” in the context of scholastic journalism, you hopefully realize they refer to “New Voices” legislation that 14 states have passed so scholastic journalists can practice free and responsible journalism without concerns. Or dare I say, fear of prior review, prior restraint or censorship. Unfortunately, there…
Read MorePodcast: Importance of passing New Voices legislation
by Kristin Taylor, CJE We hope you will check out and share the latest episode of the SPRC podcast Conversations at the Schoolhouse Gate. I’ve pasted the episode notes below. Please subscribe, rate and review! It makes a huge difference to getting the podcast out there. In case you aren’t subscribed on iTunes/Apple podcasts or…
Read MoreDespite state legislation protecting student media, students face constraints, including required changes in content
by Stan Zoller, MJE Imagine this scenario. You’re at an airport when you are approached by a security guard who, after noticing your press credentials, staff T-shirt or other items that identifies you as a journalist, says, “You write propaganda, right?” And you are allowed to pass only after you agree. Farfetched? It may seem…
Read MoreShared anecdotes can help New Voices legislation
by Candace Bowen, MJE Just how bad is the censorship that goes on in today’s student media? Could it be, as one administrator said – and perhaps more have thought – advisers just making mountains out of mole hills? And what about self-censorship? One principal said, with perfect confidence, “How can you blame us if…
Read MoreResources for working on student free press legislation
For Constitution Day, we created a resource for those working on state student free expression legislation. This resource can take stakeholders through the stages of the process. We hope this blossoms into a robust resource area. Samples are included for many items, but please remember, these are samples of what others have done. It is…
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