Press Rights
JEA stands firmly behind student journalists’ press freedom. Where journalism students delve into the impact of such events as the invasion of the Capitol Jan. 6 and issues stemming from it, they create community engagement and understanding of journalistic responsibility, roles and values. Where the same students make final decisions of content without prior review and restraint, democracy’s ideals flourish and expand. We denounce all efforts to stifle student journalists, and we stand in solidarity with advisers who support them.
Constitution Day is Sept. 17
2025 Theme: Power to the People
The Scholastic Press Rights Committee has put together a set of activities and materials around the 2025 theme "Power to the People" for teachers to use in their classrooms this Constitution Day, Sept. 17. They range from full lesson plans to quick activities and ways to promote Constitution Day in your school community.
Press Rights Quick Links
Prior Review | Law-Ethics Manual | Key Cases | What Are Ethics | Tools of Truth
Two items worth checking out
for your journalism program
These two items might provide a needed spark to add to your reporting or provide a way to give freedom to programs in your state. A guide to help with protest reporting Looking for suggestions for your students or for others when they cover public events or protests? Check out Getting into good trouble: A…
Enemy of the American people?
Scholastic Journalism Week gives students a chance to prove the opposite by Stan Zoller, MJE This week is Scholastic Journalism Week – a time for scholastic journalists and their advisers and teachers to tout the excitement and passion that is, in many ways, uniquely scholastic journalism. There will be posters, T-shirts, activities and, of course,…
How do we assist teachers about
understanding the First Amendment?
The Knight Foundation’s recently released 2016 study of student and teacher beliefs, Future of the First Amendment, reported teacher responses that raise First Amendment concerns. Teacher results showed: • When asked if high school students should be allowed to report on controversial issues in their student newspapers without the approval of school authorities, 66 percent of students…
Knight study shows hope, raises issues
The 2016 Knight Foundation’s study of student and teacher beliefs, Future of the First Amendment, has some good news about student beliefs but is equally troubling about what teachers think. The study showed that 91 percent of students agree people “should be able to express unpopular opinions” compared with 83 percent in 2004. Results also…
Need help with a censorship issue? You found it.
If you are a JEA member or students of a JEA member who need assistance concerning censorship issues, use the panic button below to generate an online form to explain your situation. This will go to a Scholastic Press Rights Committee member who will assist you quickly and notify others in your state so they can offer assistance. This outreach capability is a direct result of JEA’s Adviser Assistance Program and is designed to combat censorship issues advisers and students might face.