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
What is your school doing for Constitution Day?
What is your school doing for federally-mandated Constitution Day tomorrow? Take a little time and use the comments below to give a shout out for your Constitution Day program. Let’s show everyone that schools do understand – and practice – the freedoms guaranteed in the Constitution and the Bill of Rights. And where schools are…
If the arguments don’t work…
One of the law unit test questions in my Teaching High School Journalism course at Kent State goes something like this: “You want to convince your school principal your students SHOULD have more free expression rights. Explain ONE good argument you could give him or her.” (10 pts.) My hope is, if they graduate and…
How would you vote?
Along with an article reporting on censorship of a student newspaper at the Orange County School of the Arts, the Orange County Register ran a poll today: Should school administrators have the right to see an advanced copy of a student newspaper? The Register gave these options: • Yes, to correct factual errors and discuss…
Links to important scholastic media court cases
JEA members using the listserv this week were making a list of important scholastic media court cases. That list, or one like it, is on the Court cases page (see link at the top right of this page) – and with links to information about those cases. We hope you will find these cases and…
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.