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.

Press Rights Quick Links

Prior Review    |    Law-Ethics Manual    |    Key Cases    |    What Are Ethics     |    Tools of Truth

The Latest

Administrators suggest advisers pull edit as disruptive, negative and not what school wants

Author says censored editorial presents a factual, legal case against policy changes Administrators say the editorial is disruptive, negative toward school administrators and not conducive to the school’s view of what a student-led newspaper should accomplish Press lawyer says editorial is not disruptive to school environment Administrators at Texas High School in Texarkana, Texas, this…

Insights

Why student journalists – now more than ever – need First Amendment freedoms and protections

May 1—Law Day: We watch in horror as the last flickers of a free press in Russia are snuffed out and journalists are detained and threatened, including 14 who were arrested for covering anti-war protests. Four Russian student journalists were sentenced April 12 to two years of correctional labor for questioning whether it was right for teachers to discourage students from…

Insights

Supporting advisers, celebrating successes on Student Press Freedom Day

Today is Student Press Freedom Day, a national day of action when student journalists in the United States raise awareness of the challenges they face, celebrate their contributions to their schools and communities, and take actions to protect and restore their First Amendment freedoms. As JEA’s scholastic press rights director, I speak with many people…

‘Passion project’ brings forum policy, student decision making through process, trust

What a private school adviser called a “passion project” for journalism students and herself during the pandemic became a model for other schools, public and private, to work to limit the damage censorship brings to education. What they successfully developed is an example of a process designed so a school has a method to avoid…

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Red Panic Button

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.