UPDATE: A Texas New Voices bill timed out in session and will have to be reintroduced in 2021. HB2244 passed out of the House Public Education Committee, but died in the calendars committee, which schedules floor hearings. The legislative session ended May 27. An identical bill in the Senate, SB514, was heard in the Senate… Continue reading Texas New Voices bill times out, will be reintroduced in 2021
Author: Cory Dawson
Nebraska New Voices bill times out for this session, but will be back in 2020
UPDATE: A New Voices bill heads to the floor of the Nebraska Unicameral Legislature in early 2020. LB206 passed through legislative committees, but wasn't heard on the floor during the 2019 session, which ended June 6. It will carry over into the 2020 session, which starts in January. The bill is the tenth of 86… Continue reading Nebraska New Voices bill times out for this session, but will be back in 2020
PODCAST: When are student newspaper budget cuts unconstitutional?
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Cory Dawson: If you take a close look at any tuition breakdown, you’ll almost always see some money put aside for a student fee, or an activity fee, or a club fee — but they almost always mean pretty much the same thing. This money goes to student government so they can distribute it to… Continue reading PODCAST: When are student newspaper budget cuts unconstitutional?
Student journalist wins First Amendment award for uncovering mishandled sexual misconduct cases
WASHINGTON — A student journalist was honored with a Hugh M. Hefner First Amendment award Wednesday for a series of articles shedding light on how her high school has mishandled sexual misconduct cases, and for a long-running fight against censorship. Grace Marion is the former editor-in-chief of The Playwickian at Neshaminy High School on Langhorne,… Continue reading Student journalist wins First Amendment award for uncovering mishandled sexual misconduct cases
Award-winning media adviser resigns after censorship, conflict with school principal
TEXAS — An adviser at a high school in suburban Houston has left her job after the principal pulled stories, yearbook spreads and repeatedly questioned her judgment. Katie Moreno, the media adviser at Seven Lakes High School in Katy, Texas, decided to turn in her resignation after detailing months of censorship and after what her… Continue reading Award-winning media adviser resigns after censorship, conflict with school principal
New Voices supporters flood New York statehouse, push lawmakers for progress on bill
NEW YORK - Supporters for student press freedoms descended on the New York statehouse in Albany on April 30 to raise the profile on a measure to protect the First Amendment rights of high school journalists who attend public schools. The identical “New Voices” bills in the state Assembly (A03079) and Senate (S02297) — called… Continue reading New Voices supporters flood New York statehouse, push lawmakers for progress on bill
Admissions staff conceal copies of student newspapers after front page story about hazmat incident
Admissions staffers weren’t happy with the front page story run by the University of Massachusetts-Boston’s student newspaper, the Mass Media, during a welcome day earlier this month. The newspaper had reported about a hazmat scare in the dorms that led to a resident being taken to the hospital on a stretcher. Admissions staff, concerned about… Continue reading Admissions staff conceal copies of student newspapers after front page story about hazmat incident
For second time this session, Arkansas puts more student media protections into law
UPDATE: Protections for Arkansas student journalists were again expanded this year after amendments to the 1995 Student Publications Act were signed by the governor. HB1432, now Act 912, was signed by Gov. Asa Hutchinson during the week of April 8 and makes several incremental changes to the decades-old law. The law now covers all school-sponsored… Continue reading For second time this session, Arkansas puts more student media protections into law
In the midst of a student body presidential campaign, police are investigating trashed student newspapers
COLORADO — About 1,000 copies of the Rocky Mountain Collegian went missing April 9, and fingers are being pointed at a team running for student leadership who were the subject of a critical article published the day before the thefts. The Collegian ran a story in its Monday edition that examined campaign spending discrepancies by… Continue reading In the midst of a student body presidential campaign, police are investigating trashed student newspapers
U. Arizona student media facing uncertainty after being told to vacate offices
ARIZONA — Student media are looking for a new home at the University of Arizona, Tucson. In late 2018, university officials told student media leaders through their adviser they would likely not need to move as the school looks to find space for a new international student center. They reversed course at the beginning of… Continue reading U. Arizona student media facing uncertainty after being told to vacate offices