The Society of Professional Journalists has announced its support of Missouri’s Walter Cronkite New Voices Act, which would protect high school and college student journalists from censorship.
“Student journalists set the foundation for the future of the profession. They are limited in their ability to do their job as journalists when government officials and administrations weaken their press rights,” said SPJ National President Paul Fletcher. “By passing the New Voices Act, Missouri will set a positive example for student press freedom everywhere. SPJ strongly supports the New Voices bill in Missouri and in every state where there is a New Voices campaign.”
The bill, which would protect student journalists’ right to exercise freedom of the speech and of the press in school-sponsored media, was introduced earlier this month. A hearing on the legislation has been scheduled for Feb. 1.