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
Press Rights Commission sessions at KC
Those looking for sessions about legal issues at the Kansas City JEA/NSPA convention can consider these sessions offered by members of the press rights commission: • Designing a Strong Editorial Policy, Friday 9 am, 2206 KCCC: Editorial policies can be your strongest ally or your worst enemy. Learn what a strong policy should contain and…
A copyright lesson for scholastic online media? (and maybe those not online)
An editor created a firestorm of comment Nov.4, according to multiple sources, by claiming material on the Internet is public domain. Time to go back to basic law … and ethics. According to multiple sources, including Romenesko and Gawker, the editor of Cooks Source magazine told Monica Gaudio an article she wrote five years ago…
Your own First Amendment poster
Get your downloadable, free, First Amendment poster at HSJ.ORG.
45Words t-shirts and more
JEA’s Scholastic Press Rights Commission’s Student Partners have been cooking up some great ideas for what they’re going to be doing at the national convention next week in Kansas City. We hope you’ll help support their endeavors in a couple of different ways. They’ve got some amazing things planned: • 45words t-shirts Those at the…
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.