On March 13, student journalists and other supporters of student press freedom testified in the Minnesota Legislature in support of HR 4083 and SF 3998, companion bills that would protect press freedom in the state’s school-sponsored media.
Students who testified included Stella Jane McHugh, an editor-in-chief of The Pony Express at Stillwater High School.
The Student Press Law Center submitted written testimony in support of the bills, which would protect Minnesota’s student journalists in grades six through 12 from censorship that is based on subjective or ambiguous reasoning. Rather, it enables them to report the truth without fear of censorship, protects student media advisers from retaliation and allows Minnesota’s schools to maintain a successful learning environment.
Below is SPLC’s written testimony provided to the House Education Policy Committee. Similar testimony was submitted to the Senate Education Policy Committee.