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.

Press Rights Quick Links

Prior Review    |    Law-Ethics Manual    |    Key Cases    |    What Are Ethics     |    Tools of Truth

Letter to editor

Write a Constitution Day Letter to the Editor Use this assignment to have your students engage with your local newspaper to share their free expression experiences as a student in your school or community. Objectives Students will explore the rights of the First Amendment and discern how it impacts their lives. Students will engage in…

Student Expression Rights (What are they, exactly?)

Title Student Expression Rights (What are they, exactly?)   Description Students zero in on how the First Amendment protections apply to student speech, especially when it comes to walkouts, dress and publication related to protest.   Objectives Students will understand how the First Amendment was applied to students taking part in walkout protests in 2018….

Constitution Day highlights from previous years

As we brainstormed ideas for this version of Constitution Day, we realized how many previous activities and lessons were still relevant today. Here are our top eight. If you’d like to revisit the previous years’ lesson and ideas, we’ve included links to each year at the end of the page.   Celebrating Constitution Day (Lori…

What are ethics?

Laws indicate what journalists must do, while ethics indicate what they should do. Rooted in ethics, responsible and free journalism adheres to applicable laws and operates using professional standards to enhance student media’s reach and impact. Journalism, truly the cornerstone of democracy, starts at the scholastic media level, where students learn the legal and ethical…

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.