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
Archived discussion from SPRC Cover It Live discussion
If you could not participate in JEA’s Scholastic Press Rights Commission forum Jan. 30, you can find it here. Information includes discussion legal and ethical issues of using social media in reporting, Internet filtering, several polls on law and ethics and links to excellent resources in all those areas – and more. We appreciate the…
Another resource for teaching verification
Looking for a way to help students understand the importance of verifying information before they break stories – no matter which platform they use? Check out NewsU’s Sources, Verification and Credibility self-directed course. In the course you will study: The characteristics of different forms of information, including news, advertising and public relations How to identify…
Thinking first or acting first? A journalistic dilemma
Lessons abound following the death this morning – and premature reports of it – of Penn State football legend Joe Paterno. We raised the ethical question of print first versus verify first in October with our Ethical Guidelines for scholastic media, prepared in conjunction with JEA’s Digitial Media Committee. Is it better to break news…
Yearbook ethics guidelines
Yearbook staffs are responsible for creating an annual publication that becomes the permanent record of the school and the school population they serve. The publication they create will serve as a record/history book, memory book, business venture, classroom laboratory and public relations tool for the district. Because the functions of the publication are so far reaching,…
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.