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
Scholastic journalism enhances critical thinking, exploration and leadership;
Hazelwood promotes none of it
by Bob Button Hazelwood stories: The Supreme Court decision in Hazelwood is arguably the worst blow to scholastic journalism in our lifetime – primarily because it struck a hammer in favor of control and against education in America’s schools. Having grown up in an era when student newspapers were seen as PR tools for the school,…
Hazelwood is what advisers make of it,
only as strong as you allow it to be
by Ben Harwood Hazelwood stories: Ultimately, it’s up to advisers to dictate Hazelwood’s lasting impact. Hazelwood’s defining legacy can be one of obstruction, censorship and frustration – an all-encompassing “disruption-to-the-educational-process” shield wielded by administrators fearful of litigation. Or it can be used as a vehicle to build better student journalists – making them more skeptical, deliberate,…
Tweet8: Our job is to fight censorship
Understand how and why prior review limits your expression and endangers the school and administrators. #25HZLWD http://jeasprc.org/tweet8-our-job-is-to-fight-censors Prior review is not only damaging to the professional practice of journalism, but it also creates a stifling, restricted community. When student voices are marginalized, the educational process suffers, and foundational democratic principles such as truth and transparency…
Hazelwood leaves too much room
for limitation of student voices
by Ellen Austin Hazelwood stories: I began my journalism advising career in Minnesota, a Hazelwood state. Teaching at a small public school, the shadow of Hazelwood was a reality. My principal wanted to read the paper in advance, and tried to use Hazelwood as a justification for that request. I was lucky that I had some…
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.