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
Worthy of your attention
The following links could be sparks for coverage by student media, newsvalues for class discussion in your communities and/or journalism lessons. Check out this Society of Professional Journalists’ resolutions: • In support of enhanced protections for student journalists • First Amendment Press Freedom Award deadline for school recognition coming up Dec. 1. This is Round 1 qualification to be eligible for…
Lori Keekley, in Dow Jones speech,
promotes SPRC services
by Lori Keekley Thanks to all of you who were at Nov. 12’s Dow Jones Newsfund’s Journalism Teacher of the Year speech. Here are the links I promised. If you weren’t there, these are great reminders of several important items available from the SPRC: • SPRC members are reintroducing the Making a Difference campaign. This…
‘Rope. Tree. Journalist’ T-shirt message
shakes teacher to her core
by Michelle Turner, 2016 National Broadcast Teacher of the Year Rope. Tree. Journalist. Some Assembly Required. The recent viral photo of a man in Minnesota donning such a T-shirt was yet another moment in 2016 that my jaw went wide open and I had to pick it off the proverbial floor. I do not know…
10 resources to strengthen
your journalism program: FSW
Solid reporting makes arguments for free expression in student media easier. Here are 10 articles journalism teachers and advisers can build from to put newsthinking into their journalism programs. How to do good journalism between now and election day http://www.poynter.org/2016/how-to-do-good-journalism-between-now-and-election-day/431978/ The key here is how to apply important points to all reporting, even after the…
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.