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
Letters to the editor and online comments
Ethical guidelines Student media should accept letters to the editor or online comments from outside the staff to solidify their status as a designated public forum where students make all final decisions of content. This allows their audience to use their voices as well. Staff manual process Print/online • A student editor must know…
Policy sets standards and staff manuals
ethically carry them out
by John Bowen It’s 3 p.m. Friday, and the final deadline is in four hours. At issue is a package covering a controversial subject of growing importance in the community. The staff is divided. Some want to publish the story because it is controversial, important and will create needed community discussion. Others say there has…
Two important articles worth discussion, inclusion in j classes
Two articles published April 5 could add lively discussion in journalism classes as well as reinforce time-tested procedures of information checking. One is a Columbia Journalism Review report on the Rolling Stone article on an alleged rape last July on the University of Virginia campus that Rolling Stone later retracted. The report has multiple segments with numerous links…
Transparency needs to be crystal clear
– at all levels
by Stan Zoller In an effort to enhance transparency and public access to some records, legislators in two states are sending a message to some schools – show us your privates. Sort of. Bills are pending in the Texas and Illinois state houses would require police departments or campus safety departments at private colleges and…
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.