Author: Madeline Will

Missouri Senate committee unanimously passes New Voices legislation following hearing
New Voices imports

Passion filled the room when free press advocates, student journalists and educators stressed the importance of unrestricted journalism for high school and college students in a state Senate committee hearing regarding the Walter Cronkite New Voices Act on Wednesday — which the committee then passed 7-0. In 1988, Missouri became the birthplace of the landmark… Continue reading Missouri Senate committee unanimously passes New Voices legislation following hearing

Video: Fighting for students’ freedom of speech
New Voices imports

The Michigan Senate Committee of the Judiciary unanimously passed a student press freedom bill in March. This video shows why it's important with clips from the bill's hearing and U.S. Sen. Heidi Heitkamp's speech on the Senate floor. Music: Wayfaring Blues by Skill_Borrower (c) 2015, Creative Commons Attribution Noncommercial (3.0) license. Video by SPLC intern Brooke Bean.… Continue reading Video: Fighting for students’ freedom of speech

Maryland legislature passes student press freedom bill
New Voices imports

The state legislature gave final approval to a student press freedom bill this weekend, sending the anti-censorship legislation to the governor’s desk. On Saturday, the state Senate voted 37-9 to concur with the House amendments and give final approval to the legislation which would grant high school and college student journalists the ability to exercise… Continue reading Maryland legislature passes student press freedom bill

Maryland House approves student press freedom bill, final vote expected soon
New Voices imports

The Old Line State might be the first state in the national New Voices movement to pass a student press freedom bill this year, as the legislation cleared the Maryland House and moves back to the Senate for final consideration. On Thursday, the Maryland House voted 130-6 to pass the legislation, which would grant high… Continue reading Maryland House approves student press freedom bill, final vote expected soon

Illinois student press freedom bill passes unanimously through House committee
New Voices imports

Lawmakers on a House committee unanimously passed ‘New Voices’ legislation Wednesday that would bolster First Amendment protections for high school student journalists in the state. About 50 high school students, their journalism advisers and free speech advocates attended the hearing for House Bill 5902 that would protect high school journalists’ right to free speech and… Continue reading Illinois student press freedom bill passes unanimously through House committee

Student press freedom supporters testified in support of Maryland New Voices bill
New Voices imports

Student press freedom is on the table before Maryland representatives, who heard testimony this week on a ‘New Voices’ bill that has already passed the state Senate. The anti-censorship bill would grant high school and college student journalists the ability to exercise freedom of speech and of the press in school-sponsored media, regardless of whether… Continue reading Student press freedom supporters testified in support of Maryland New Voices bill

Missouri House overwhelmingly passes student press freedom bill
New Voices imports

MISSOURI — Nearly 30 years ago, Missouri was the birthplace of the landmark U.S. Supreme Court decision that decided student newspapers are subject to a lower level of First Amendment protection. On Tuesday, the Missouri House of Representatives gave overwhelming support to a bill that would eradicate that notion from schools in the state. Lawmakers… Continue reading Missouri House overwhelmingly passes student press freedom bill

U.S. Sen. Heidi Heitkamp speaks on the Senate floor in support of student free speech
New Voices imports

Democratic Sen. Heidi Heitkamp of North Dakota took to the U.S. Senate floor Thursday to voice support for students’ free speech rights and to applaud her home state’s groundbreaking passage of New Voices legislation. Last April, North Dakota Gov. Jack Dalrymple signed into law the John Wall New Voices Act that protects students’ right to… Continue reading U.S. Sen. Heidi Heitkamp speaks on the Senate floor in support of student free speech

Maryland legislators hear testimony in support of student press freedom legislation
New Voices imports

As students roamed the halls of a Maryland Senate Office Building on Wednesday, speaking out about civic issues like an education credit or virtual learning, free press advocates testified in support of student journalists’ own ability to speak and report without the fear of administrative censorship. The Senate Education, Health & Environmental Affairs Committee heard… Continue reading Maryland legislators hear testimony in support of student press freedom legislation