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
A Great Time of Reflection: two issues for discussion and reporting by student journalists
Two events are drawing a lot of commentary this week. They are also great starting points for classroom discussion and student media reporting beyond just giving opinions. One is whether the Associated Press should have published photos of a young Marine mortally injured along with a story about him and his mission. The other is…
Parents are the keys to saving J-programs
On Aug. 27th, I talked about the learning that is lost when J-programs are cancelled. But how do we save them or get them reinstated? Parents are the key. Administrators and school board members may not pay attention to teachers whose programs are threatened, but they certainly pay attention to parents. Parents of students in…
Needed: Student media which are public forums
The Journalism Education Association and The Center for Scholastic Journalism are looking for more schools who are public forums for student expression. Why? Because we have had several requests for numbers – and for schools in particular areas. So, if your school’s student media are public forums for student expression, let us know by going…
Tinker and McCluhan meet
It’s not often in the confines of my brain that the names Mary Beth Tinker and Marshall McLuhan bump into each other. However, after reading about the travails of the Palmer family in Texas though, the two ’60s luminaries kept cropping up in my thoughts. I don’t know if Pete Palmer and his parents even…
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.