National, local and student news outlets around the country run op-eds for Student Press Freedom Day

On Feb. 26, people around the country joined the Student Press Law Center in celebrating Student Press Freedom Day 2021: Journalism Against the Odds. Weeks of events, new resources and community building activities culminated on that day with overwhelming nationwide support for a free student press.

This year, we relaunched our annual op-ed campaign calling for pieces on the importance of student press freedom. High school, college and professional journalists answered the call.

To take this year’s op-eds to the next level, SPLC hosted an op-ed bootcamp in early February led by veteran journalist Steven A. Holmes. You can watch it in full here. More than 200 student journalists registered, and many went on to work with coaches including professionals from the National Society of Newspaper Columnists and the Online News Association — who helped them craft and place their editorials.

Check out some of the op-eds below to see some of the incredible final products. Highlights include student op-eds like this one written by Pratika Katiyar; this editorial, in which the Western Kentucky Herald urges its university to stop suing them; panel discussions highlighting Student Press Freedom Day; and testimonials and declarations like Senator Kavanagh & Assemblywoman Lupardo reintroducing the Student Journalist Free Speech Act in New York.

Don’t see your op-ed on the list below?

Email Alexis Mason at amason@splc.org with the subject line “SPFD editorial submission” and a link to your editorial. Op-eds must be focused on student press freedom and published within the last 30 days.

Editor’s Note: This list is in progress, we will continue to update it.

Local and National News Outlets

• 100 Days in Appalachia—Kelsey Golden, high school student (coached by Bonnie Jean Feldkamp)
  • Commentary: Why Small Towns Need Student Journalists
• The 74—New York
  • Student Reporters Could be the Fix Local News Needs. Let’s Give Them the Legal Protections to Cover More than Pep Rallies and STEM Competitions
• CNN.com—Rhamil Taguba, high school student (coached by Steven A. Holmes)
  • States need to ensure student journalists have press freedom
• Good Day LA Feature (FOX TV-Los Angeles)
  • Student Journalists Speak Out: Student Press Freedom Day 2021
• Index on Censorship—London
  • Student Press Freedom Day: The challenges of Covid and censorship
• The McDowell News—Marion, NC 
  • First Five: Empower student journalists to do their jobs
• Montgomery News—Lillian Wu, high school student
  • Guest column: Student press freedom deserves attention
• Newsweek—Sam Stroozas, college student (coached by Bonnie Jean Feldkamp)
  • How to Support Student Journalists and Assault Survivors on Campus | Opinion
• Poynter—Angela Yang, college student coached by Jane McDonnell)
  • Journalism is a public service. So why doesn’t it represent the public?
• Redhead Blackbelt—Humboldt, CA
  • A Student Editor for the Northcoast Preparatory Academy Reminds Us of the Value of Student Press Freedom Day
• Richmond Times—Pratika Katiyar, high school student (coached by Steven A. Holmes)
  • Pratika Katiyar column: Establish First Amendment protections for student journalists
• Tap Into Mountainside—New Providence, New Jersey
  • Student Journalists React to Hostility Towards the Media
• Tri States Public Radio—Macomb, IL
  • Showcasing the Work of Student Journalists
• The Wilson Times—Wilson, NC
  • Add student press freedom to the syllabus

Student Media

• The Beacon—University of Portland, OR
  • EDITORIAL: Student voices will persist
• Cardinal Points—SUNY Plattsburgh, NY
  • EDITORIAL: Celebrate your voice on Student Press Freedom Day
• Coast Reporter—Orange Coast College, Costa Mesa, California
  • EDITORIAL: The time for transparency at OCC is now
• College Heights Herald—Western Kentucky University, Bowling Green, Kentucky
  • On Student Press Freedom Day: Stop suing the Herald
• Dixie Sun News—Dixie State University, St. George, UT
  • ‘Journalism Against the Odds’: Student Press Freedom Day recognizes student journalists
• The Guardsman—City College of San Francisco, CA
  • Censorship on Campus, the Case of City College
• Hawkview—La Quinta High School, La Quinta, California
  • Blackhawks Student Journalists Discuss their Screening of Raise Your Voice
• Kentucky Kernel—University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY
  • When they say ‘Journalism Against the Odds’
• The Pearl Post—Daniel Pearl Magnet High School, Los Angeles
  • Student journalists persist ‘against the odds’ despite pandemic, strained communication
• The Post—Ohio University, Athens, Ohio
  • From the Editor’s Desk: It’s time to celebrate Student Press Freedom Day
• The PV Student Publication—Pascack Valley High School, Hillsdale, New Jersey
  • ‘Our opinions matter’
• The Rocky Mountain Collegian—Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO
  • LFTE: Press freedom impacts all of us
• The Scot Scoop—Carlmont High School, San Carlos, CA
  • Editorial: Student journalists persist against the odds
• The Signal—University of Houston-Clear Lake, TX
  • INTERACTIVE INFOGRAPHIC: Student Press Freedom Day highlights importance of censorship-free student journalism
  • The Signal celebrates Student Press Freedom Day 2021
  • BLOG: Recognizing the power and necessity as a student journalist
• The Spectrum—University of Buffalo, NY
  • Student journalists deserve transparency
• The Stampede—Metea Valley High School, Aurora, Illinois
  • 30 creators and one mission: Student Press Freedom Day reinforces our work as journalists with press freedom
• University Press—Lamar University, Beaumont, Texas
  • Student Press Freedom Day
• Wichita State Sunflower—Wichita, KS
  • OPINION: How student journalism has changed me
• The Wright State Guardian—Wright State University, Dayton, OH
  • Letter From the Editors: Student Journalists Are Real Journalists Too

Partner Organizations

• Adriana Chevira of SoCal JEA on Twitter
  • Journalism Against the Odds Montage of Videos
• Atlanta Association of Black Journalist
  • Student Press Freedom Day
• Freedom Forum Institute Column by Gene Policinski
  • STUDENT PRESS FREEDOM DAY: EMPOWER JOURNALISTS TO DO THEIR JOBS
• Intellectual Freedom Blog
  • Student Journalists are Essential: Support Student Press Freedom Day
• National Coalition Against Censorship Blog Post
  • JOURNALISM AGAINST THE ODDS: STUDENT PRESS FREEDOM DAY 2021
• News Literacy Project President Alan Miller’s Column in Poynter
  • Students’ enduring rights to freedoms of speech and the press
• Reporter’s Committee for Freedom of the Press Instagram Takeover
  • Student Press Freedom Day Takeover

Events

• “Activating Youth in the Global Fight for Press Freedom”, PEN-America
  • [VIRTUAL] ACTIVATING YOUTH IN THE GLOBAL FIGHT FOR PRESS FREEDOM
• Student Media Panel, Iowa State University
  • Greenlee Student Media Panel Discussion, Student Press Freedom Day – First Amendment Series

SPF Day Testimonials and Declarations

• Student and advisor testimonials
• NY State Senator Brian Kavanaugh and Assemblywoman Donna Lupardo
  • Senator Kavanagh & Assemblywoman Lupardo Reintroduce The Student Journalist Free Speech Act