When Hope Johnson was a freshman in high school, her journalism instructor taught her class the history of American journalism. But one lesson in history stuck out the most to her, and even struck a nerve. The Hazelwood case. “It made me slightly angry, but mostly confused,” said Johnson. “I was under the impression that… Continue reading Hazelwood Inspires Student’s Testimony
RHODE ISLAND — A Rhode Island bill aimed at protecting students’ right to free speech and press died in committee after no action was taken on it before the legislative session ended. The bill, which was part of the nationwide ‘New Voices’ campaign, would also protect student media advisors from being retaliated against for content… Continue reading Rhode Island New Voices bill dies in committee
NEW JERSEY— State legislators have re-introduced a bill that would prohibit school districts and public universities from authorizing prior restraint of school-sponsored media. Co-sponsored by Assemblywoman Gail Phoebus, R-Sussex, and Assemblyman Troy Singleton, D-Burlington, the legislation aims to protect students from administrative censorship. The bill was originally introduced by an outgoing assemblywoman near the end… Continue reading Bill protecting students’ press rights re-introduced to NJ Assembly
Here is a look back at the evolution of Speech Rights of Student Journalists Act, on Twitter, from Illinois Journalism Education Association.
One of the nation's strongest laws protecting the independence of high school journalism is on its way to Illinois Gov. Bruce Rauner's desk after the state House gave its final approval Tuesday. HB 5902 passed the House 117-0 after its sponsor, Rep. Will Guzzardi, D-Chicago, asked his colleagues to accept Senate-approved amendments that paved the… Continue reading Student press freedom bill bound for Illinois governor’s desk
Without opposition, the Illinois Senate ratified a bill Friday protecting the editorial independence of high school journalists and advisers, putting the measure one technicality away from Gov. Bruce Rauner's desk. House Bill 5902 needs only a perfunctory House vote agreeing to non-controversial amendments added in the Senate. The House had earlier passed its version of the bill 114-0,… Continue reading Unanimous Senate vote leaves Illinois student press freedom legislation on the verge of becoming law
ILLINOIS -- Legal protection for Illinois high school journalists cleared its toughest legislative hurdle Tuesday and is headed for the Senate floor. Two weeks after giving House Bill 5902 a skeptical hearing that cast doubt on its prospects, members of the Illinois Senate Judiciary Committee unanimously passed the measure, setting up a Senate floor vote that… Continue reading Student press freedom bill unanimously clears Senate committee as school lobbyists drop opposition
A bill that sought to protect the First Amendment rights of Missouri student journalists quietly died in the state Senate this month. It would have prevented public schools and colleges from censoring student-produced media. The Walter Cronkite New Voices Act, named after the Missouri native and iconic broadcast journalist, spent this spring climbing the state legislative… Continue reading New Voices advocates regroup in Missouri after bill stalls in state Senate
North Dakota's Superintendent of Public Instruction, Kirsten Baesler, told Mystician (Bismarck State College) reporter Megan McNeill that North Dakota has benefited from the John Wall New Voices Act. Baesler also said every state would benefit from New Voices legislation. If anyone from other states has questions or concerns about New Voices legislation, Baesler said just… Continue reading Baesler: Call us
MARYLAND — Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan signed into law Tuesday a bill designed to protect the free-speech rights of high school and college journalists. The new law, which goes into effect on October 1, will grant high school and college student journalists the ability to exercise freedom of speech and of the press in school-sponsored media,… Continue reading Maryland New Voices press freedom bill signed into law
