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
Making points; not just giving them
by Stan Zoller, MJE A recent series of posts on the JEA Listserv piqued my interest more than others. The topic was news quizzes. What intrigued me was the discussion about not the quality of the news quizzes, where they are available and how they are being used. There was also discussion about using them…
Developing reporters
who are more than note-takers
by Candace Perkins Bowen, MJE “Question authority” is my favorite button, something I have worn proudly on my jacket, a message to both students and administrators. True, questioning in a snarky or defiant way isn’t a good idea. My approach is more like “Make sure authority isn’t leaving out information we need to know.” But…
Ancillary: Articles for broadly interpreted cases
Articles for Broadly Interpreted Cases Miller v. Penn Manor School District (2008) Case decision: http://www.paed.uscourts.gov/documents/opinions/08D1173P.pdf SPLC analysis: http://www.splc.org/blog/splc/2009/12/beverly-hills-speech-cop-ii-surprise-youre-suspended http://www.splc.org/article/2014/11/due-process-claims (No Fair Notice section) Ponce v. Socorro Independent School District (2007) Case decision: http://caselaw.findlaw.com/us-5th-circuit/1146285.html SPLC analysis: http://www.splc.org/article/2007/11/5th-circuit-upholds-texas-schools-punishment-of-student-who-wrote-violent-story http://www.splc.org/multimedia/278 (Podcast) Nuxoll v. Indian Prairie School District #204 (2008) Case decision: http://caselaw.findlaw.com/us-7th-circuit/1317185.html SPLC analysis: http://www.splc.org/article/2008/04/student-can-wear-be-happy-not-gay-t-shirt-in-time-for-protests http://www.splc.org/article/2007/05/illinois-court-rules-students-cannot-wear-anti-gay-t-shirt http://www.splc.org/article/2011/03/appeals-court-upholds-students-right-to-wear-be-happy-not-gay-shirts Boim…
Instructor’s background:
The Morse Decision (2007)
The Morse Decision (2007) In 2002, a high school in Juneau, Alaska, allowed its students to leave class to watch the Olympic Torch Relay as it proceeded in front of the school building (Kozlowski et al., 2009). Kozlowski et al. (2009) stated that during the ceremony, student Joseph Frederick displayed a large banner proclaiming, “BONG…
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.