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

Could $300 help show your community what student press freedom looks like?

by John Bowen, MJE With Student Press Freedom Day coming Jan. 29, 2020, the Student Press Law Center created an incentive to help student media celebrate, inform or advocate the importance of free student media. The incentive comes in the form of grant applications due to the SPLC by Jan. 9. Student media can use the…

Help administrators know what N.V. (New Voices Law) means

by Stan Zoller, MJE When you see the letters “N.V.” in the context of scholastic journalism, you hopefully realize they refer to “New Voices” legislation that 14 states have passed so scholastic journalists can practice free and responsible journalism without concerns.  Or dare I say, fear of prior review, prior restraint or censorship. Unfortunately, there…

Interviewing minors about sensitive topics proves controversial

by Susan McNulty, CJE The Stampede and The Hoofbeat adviser J.W. Mitchell High School, Trinity, Florida In 2017, my journalism students included coverage in the yearbook about ­­­­­­­­­­­online harassment. They interviewed two students and quoted them by name. The next year, editors wrote and included a story about anorexia, this time using anonymous sources. In…

Podcast: Importance of passing New Voices legislation

by Kristin Taylor, CJE We hope you will check out and share the latest episode of the SPRC podcast Conversations at the Schoolhouse Gate. I’ve pasted the episode notes below. Please subscribe, rate and review! It makes a huge difference to getting the podcast out there. In case you aren’t subscribed on iTunes/Apple podcasts or…

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.