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

Conversations at the Schoolhouse Gate

Episode 9: Photojournalism during school The latest episode of the SPRC podcast Conversations at the Schoolhouse Gate focuses on setting the scene and then interviewing students and their adviser at Palo Alto High School. Students dealt with authorities trying to block them from taking photos when a police officer was injured on campus. You can…

Teaching students to fact-check themselves and others, Facebook and fact checking

by Susan McNulty, CJE The Stampede and The Hoofbeat adviserJ.W. Mitchell High School, Trinity, Florida Thursday, Jan. 9, Facebook announced in a blog post found here their platform will soon allow users to opt out of certain political and social issue advertisements.  This decision came in response to demands for Facebook to fact check ads before approving…

Deadline extended for Student Press Freedom Day grant application

Deadline for the SPLC led Student Press Freedom Day grant applications of up to $300 is extended to Monday, Jan. 13, Hillary Davis, New Voices Advocacy and Campaign Organizer, said today. “I still encourage you to have your applications in this week for priority consideration,” Davis wrote in an information release. “I’m seeing some great…

Ethics codes are important, should not enable punishments of students or advisers

Lindsay CoppensThe Harbinger adviserAlgonquin Regional High School, Northborough, Mass.  Adopting a code of ethics can be an excellent way to promote ethical discussion and decision making in a scholastic publication. There are many ethics codes such as the Society of Professional Journalists Code of Ethics and National Scholastic Press Association Model Code of Ethics for…

Red Panic Button

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.