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
Ethical principles and considerations
If your students have to make takedown decisions, the legal advice is essential. Just as important are the various ethical possibilities, too. While the legal principles are relatively clear, ethical principles might not be.. In ethical decision-making, there is topically no right or wrong but primarily right v. right decsision. Such decisions might depend on…
Possible takedown models
Possible takedown choices Model A: Leave everything as is, if: • The request is designed to retain image or avoid embarrassment • No discernible evidence of factual or legal issue • Value of not changing information for historical, reality reasons • Publishing the truth, as best we can determine it • Credibility of the student…
Resources for takedown demands
Resources for the guidelines: • Responding to takedown demands http://www.splc.org/knowyourrights/legalresearch.asp?id=111 • Responding to takedown demands http://www.splc.org/pdf/takedowndemand.pdf • Responding to takedown demands http://studentpressblogs.org/nspa/responding-to-takedown-requests/ • 5 ways news organizations respond to ‘unpublishing requests http://www.poynter.org/latest-news/top-stories/104414/5-ways-news-organizations-respond-to-unpublishing-requests/ • Post grapples with how to ‘unpublish’ and correct the record http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/08/06/AR2010080604341.html • The ethics of unpublishing http://www.caj.ca/?p=1135 • If you must unpublish, here’s…
A newsroom guide for handling online comments
“The New York Times and The Washington Post have the two smartest teams of lawyers and editors in the world, and they’ve come to opposite conclusions. The Times is a review first/post later system and The Post is a post first/takedown later system. So there’s no industry standard or consensus.” – Frank LoMonte, Student Press…
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.