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
Noteworthy information for the start of a new school year
As we prepare to return to school, several pieces of information are worth our attention: • Another Washington school argues it is not responsible for student media content. The SPLC in its news flashes today ran a story about the Seattle school district saying it would not be responsible for content in a potential libel…
Journalism requires civic engagement
As we start the new school year, we need to remind ourselves that journalism is civic engagement. I have been thinking about this for some time because journalism is a discipline that requires more than reading the book, completing a FIB (fill in he blank) sheet and then taking a test. Rather, journalism requires that…
Getting source consent when handling sensitive issues
Because some student journalists have had issues, including facing litigation, with identifiable sources claiming they did not give consent for the publication of information attributed to them, JEA’s Scholastic Press Rights Commission recommends student media organizations follow a consistent process to help prove consent was obtained and to avoid potential legal conflicts. The Commission recognizes…
Journalistic credibility – gone with LeBron
I know this is not directly related to scholastic journalism, but in a way it is. As scholastic media – online and print – strive to find models of what they want to emulate, they of course look to the commercial media (I have reasons for not grouping them all under the guise of professional)….
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.