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
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…
How two other school districts escaped lawsuits
by fostering an independent student press QT 61
Student First Amendment Rights Douglass v. Londonderry School District (2005) and Sisley v. Seattle School District (2011) Douglass v. Londonderry School District (2005) The yearbook staff at Londonderry High School in New Hampshire voted against running the photograph Blake Douglass submitted as his senior picture. The photograph showed him kneeling, a broken (open) shotgun across…
Advocacy and journalism:
coexistence or natural conflict?
by John Bowen, MJE Initially came the mass shooting of 17 students and school staff at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High in Florida. Students and scholastic media reported the issues surrounding the shootings and the followed student protests, trying to make sense of it all. Then came discussion among journalism educators about student advocacy and journalism….
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.