Parents and educators trying to crack down on "cyberbullying" tell painful stories about students harassing their classmates with text messages and posting hurtful rumors online ' but as many students are finding out, laws and policies against cyberbullying could open new routes to attack substantive student speech.
Author: Lisa Waananen
Trying not to forget: Keeping memories of censorship alive tough with constant newsroom turnover
Constant staff turnover may be a fact of life at student publications, but it puts student journalists at a disadvantage when facing censorship and other conflicts.
Playing open records games
The principle behind sunshine laws is simple: Citizens of a democratic nation should be able to find out what decisions are being made by government agencies, including state universities. The reality of using these laws to obtain public documents is much more complex, especially with universities' understaffed offices, reams of paperwork and wariness about releasing anything that might hurt the institution's public image.
Sports reporting not just about scores
The story of college athletics does not end with the final buzzer, and public records can help journalists give their readers the full report.
Fighting the past: Private school's editors battled with school for right to keep archive story online
When the box finally arrived, Falcon editors knew it was more than the server they needed to get their Web site back online. It was a victory.
University of Texas refuses student newspaper's records request for student government e-mails
The University of Texas at Austin denied student journalists' public records requests for e-mails between student government officials, citing the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act.
Wisconsin students ask attorney general to rule on whether student governments are subject to sunshine laws
Student journalists in Wisconsin are asking the state attorney general to clarify whether university student government organizations are subject to the state's sunshine laws.
JEA condemns administrative prior review of student newspapers
The continuing prevalence of administrative prior review motivated the Journalism Education Association to pass an updated statement denouncing the practice.
N.M. governor signs bill to make government agencies recognize e-mail records requests
Government agencies in New Mexico will have to accept electronic requests for public records after the governor signed a bill April 3 inspired by a state university's rejection of an e-mail request.
Va. Commonwealth student newspaper reports 2,500 copies stolen
Campus police at Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond, Va., are investigating the theft of April 2 issues of the student newspaper, which featured a controversial photo and headline on the front page.