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.
Press Rights Quick Links
Prior Review | Law-Ethics Manual | Key Cases | What Are Ethics | Tools of Truth
Decision protects students’ rights, since 1943 QT 63
Quick Hits: Student First Amendment Rights What, students have rights? Not until 1943 (West Virginia State Board of Education v. Barnette) Before the Barnette decision, when students came into conflict with public schools, the courts decided their cases—often against the students—without mentioning students’ right. They considered if the punishment was excessive. (Beating with a rawhide…
Six schools, 22 student journalists and 201 state legislators:
Lobby Day in Minnesota
by Lori Keekley, MJE I had no idea how inspired I would be by 22 students from six different schools who joined me to lobby for the New Voices legislation March 19. During the one day at the capitol, the students made signs, learned and practiced how to talk to legislators, lined the senate and…
What to tell your principal about Prior Review? QT 62
Quick Hits: Student First Amendment Rights The bad news is that administrators may legally ask to see stories before they are printed or aired, but prior review leaves them in an awkward situation, because of the good news below. The good news is that they generally cannot ask students to change anything or spike the…
Invading privacy still a concern
in today’s public world
by Candace Bowen, MJE One area of unprotected speech is getting harder to teach all the time – partly because a fair number of students and even some adults appear not to care about protecting it. “Unwarranted invasions of privacy” – one of the nine categories of speech the government can prohibit or even punish…
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.