Teens rally to โ€˜Stand for Speechโ€™ in NYC

Teens for Press Freedom, New Voices New York, and the Student Press Law Center hosted a rally in support of New Yorkโ€™s Student Journalist Free Speech Act. Teens for Press Freedom, New Voices New York, PEN America, Student Press Law Center, and approximately 40 high school students gathered in New York City to advocate for… Continue reading Teens rally to โ€˜Stand for Speechโ€™ in NYC

Nebraska high school journalist refuses to back down, publishes her censored article on Confederate flags and racism at school in local paper

A student truck at North Platte High School, Nebraska displays the Confederate flag in the school parking lot. A student stole one of these flags, and another wrote a story about the incident. (George Lauby/The North Platte Bulletin)

NEBRASKA โ€” In September, Jessica Mathieu, a senior at North Platte High School, in southwest Nebraska, stole a Confederate flag from another studentโ€™s pickup truck parked in the school parking lot. She posted a video on social media acknowledging that she had stolen the flag, saying, โ€œI know what I did was wrong, but what youโ€™re doing is worse. Youโ€™re making people at your school feel like theyโ€™re not welcome.โ€

Illinois has a law protecting student press freedom, so why is censorship still happening?

The exterior of the Illinois capitol building on a sunny day

ILLINOIS โ€” In 2016, Illinois passed the Speech Rights of Student Journalists Act, which protects student journalists at public schools from censorship by their administration. But the language in the law does not protect advisers from retaliation over news stories their students produce. Those protections were initially part of HB 5902, but were stripped from… Continue reading Illinois has a law protecting student press freedom, so why is censorship still happening?

HBCU newspaper editors tell us about their work and the significance of Black student journalists reporting Black news (Part 3โ€” North Carolina A&T State Universityโ€™s The A&T Register)

Jarod Hamilton, a Black college student and EIC of The Register poses in front of a blue background
Jarod Hamilton, the editor-in-chief of North Carolina A&T State University's The A&T Register.

Q&A with Jarod Hamilton, the editor-in-chief of North Carolina A&T State University's The A&T Register Interview byย Alexis Mason, Outreach and Operations Manager at the Student Press Law Center In honor of Black History Month, SPLC is celebrating the rich history of student journalism at historically Black colleges and universities by conducting a series of Q&A… Continue reading HBCU newspaper editors tell us about their work and the significance of Black student journalists reporting Black news (Part 3โ€” North Carolina A&T State Universityโ€™s The A&T Register)

HBCU newspaper editors tell us about their work and the significance of Black student journalists reporting Black news (Part 2โ€” Florida A&M University The Famuan)

Ariyon Daily, a Black college student, smiling
Ariyon Dailey, the editor-in-chief of Florida A&M Universityโ€™s The Famuan.

Q&A with Ariyon Dailey, the editor-in-chief of Florida A&M Universityโ€™s The Famuan Interview by Alexis Mason, Outreach and Operations Manager at the Student Press Law Center In honor of Black History Month, SPLC is celebrating the rich history of student journalism at historically Black colleges and universities by conducting a series of Q&A interviews with editor-in-chiefs… Continue reading HBCU newspaper editors tell us about their work and the significance of Black student journalists reporting Black news (Part 2โ€” Florida A&M University The Famuan)

Nebraska high school censors student editorial about censorship, and journalism adviser resigns

Three high school students wearing face masks work at laptops at a table.
From left to right, student editors Ramya Iyer, Jaden Taylor and Caleb De La Cruz work in the Westside newsroom in Omaha, Nebraska, Feb. 8, 2021. Photo by Mina Testolin

UPDATE: On Feb. 12, the administration at Westside High School in Omaha, Nebraska censored a student editorial about censorship. The same day, one of the Westside journalism advisers resigned. This came shortly after Westside student journalists testified on Jan. 29 for a bill that would have prevented this censorship. On Feb. 10, District 66 Superintendent… Continue reading Nebraska high school censors student editorial about censorship, and journalism adviser resigns

HBCU newspaper editors tell us about their work and the significance of Black student journalists reporting Black news (Part 1: Morgan State Spokesman)

Oyin Adedoyin, the editor-in-chief of Morgan State University's Spokesman

In honor of Black History Month, SPLC is celebrating the rich history of student journalism at historically Black colleges and universities by conducting a series of Q&A interviews with editor-in-chiefs from three HBCUs: Morgan State University, Florida A&M University, and North Carolina A&T State University.