Sophie was a 2016-17 Active Voice fellow. She was a junior majoring in journalism at Ball State University in Indiana. During her fellowship, she was the Assistant Copy Editor of Ball State Daily News and had held other positions there. She was also the press secretary for the Student Government Association. Throughout her time in college, she took courses that allowed her to work on a yearbook initiative and strengthen police and press relationships. An advocate for First Amendment rights, she aspires to pursue a career in media law.
Posts by Sophie
- Signing Off: Sophie Gordon - As my time as an Active Voice Fellow draws to an end, I’m excited by the work that’s been done. Not only have I put together a toolkit to help advisers start free press programs in their own schools, but the other fellows have created projects that empower high school girls and teach them how… Continue reading Signing Off: Sophie Gordon
- Opinion: Stop holding their hands - Practicing as a free press isn’t all it’s cracked up to be. It taught me to be too responsible and too aware of how my actions affect others. It allowed me to cover stories on topics that the public needs to know more about and made me too concerned about my civic duties. It really… Continue reading Opinion: Stop holding their hands
- If you’re a feminist (and you should be), be intersectional - On Jan. 21 — just one day after President Donald Trump’s inauguration — people who identify as women (who I will from now on collectively call women because that is what they are) across the world participated in #WomensMarch(es). Women in Paris and London stood united with women in the United States in saying that… Continue reading If you’re a feminist (and you should be), be intersectional
- Now is the time for New Voices - It’s time to cure Hazelwood. In 1988, the Supreme Court handed down a 5-3 ruling that hurt student journalism publications everywhere. The landmark Hazelwood v Kuhlmeier decision determined that school administrators could exercise prior restraint if a school can present a reasonable educational justification for its censorship. This decision stifles high school and middle school… Continue reading Now is the time for New Voices
- ‘Twas the time for New Voices - ‘Twas the night before Christmas, and all through the nation High schools paused in writing some new legislation Those hard at work took a much-needed break But they’d return to it soon, for so much is at stake. The New Voices Campaign is beginning to gain traction It’s starting to spread; it’s starting to be… Continue reading ‘Twas the time for New Voices
- Why I am an Active Voice Fellow - I don’t have a story of being personally censored. I was fortunate enough to attend a high school where my adviser trusted his students to be completely responsible for the paper and the administration did not subject us to prior review or censorship. Our student paper, the North Star, has printed stories about the legalization… Continue reading Why I am an Active Voice Fellow