An exchange between Rep. Andy Harris and a University of Maryland's Cat Murphy is a reminder that student journalists will sometimes be told — confidently and incorrectly — that they’re doing something illegal. That’s why it’s important to know your rights before going into the field to report, and the Student Press Law Center is here to help.
Newly issued guidelines from Montgomery County Public Schools make progress in recognizing the editorial independence of student media, but advocates argue the district still falls critically short of complying with the Maryland New Voices law.
This is not the first time Trump has tried to punish journalists for coverage he didn’t like. The pattern, however, continues to set an anti-press tone across the nation, and student journalists are among those who feel it most.
Twenty-five high school students from 15 states logged into the Student Press Law Center’s New Voices Student Leaders Institute this summer expecting to learn about press freedom, but they say they took away so much more. After two weeks of training and collaborating with their peers, they’re now equipped with the leadership skills, advocacy strategies and confidence to lead campaigns for press freedom in their states and communities.
A federal judge ruled Friday that the Trump Administration unconstitutionally used immigration law to silence the speech of international students, including within student media.
A California Superior Court judge last week ordered San Francisco Unified Schools to restore Eric Gustafson to his role as Lowell High School journalism adviser. A few days after the verdict, the Student Press Law Center caught up with Gustafson to chat about the ruling.
In a major win for student journalists and a warning to school administrators, a California court found this week that San Francisco’s Lowell High School violated the state’s New Voices law when they reassigned the school’s journalism adviser solely because of his students' reporting.
This rare and extreme step serves as yet another reminder that student journalists should familiarize themselves with digital security best practices, as well as the laws concerning the protection of confidential sources and materials.
Lawrence High School officials are illegally censoring student journalists and intimidating their adviser in the wake of a recent lawsuit, according to a new court motion.