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SPLC urges Supreme Court to limit school authority over off-campus student speech
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This month the U.S. Supreme Court will hear arguments in Mahanoy Area School Dist. v. B.L., a student speech case that could fundamentally alter how future generations understand the idea of free speech in America.  Read SPLC's Amicus Brief Just over 50 years ago the Court handed down a decision in its landmark student speech… Continue reading SPLC urges Supreme Court to limit school authority over off-campus student speech

People around the country celebrated Student Press Freedom Day 2021. Now, the work continues
SPLC News

Feb. 26 marked Student Press Freedom Day 2021: Journalism Against the Odds. Weeks of events, new resources and community building activities culminated on that day with overwhelming nationwide support for a free student press. Students and advisers from all over the country joined together with SPLC and 20 partner organizations.  We hope you're feeling energized and inspired, let's… Continue reading People around the country celebrated Student Press Freedom Day 2021. Now, the work continues

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)
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NEBRASKA — In September, Jessica Mathieu, a senior at North Platte High School, in southwest Nebraska, stole a Confederate flag from another student’s pickup truck parked in the school parking lot. She posted a video on social media acknowledging that she had stolen the flag, saying, “I know what I did was wrong, but what you’re doing is worse. You’re making people at your school feel like they’re not welcome.”

National, local and student news outlets around the country run op-eds for Student Press Freedom Day
SPLC News

On Feb. 26, people around the country joined the Student Press Law Center in celebrating Student Press Freedom Day 2021: Journalism Against the Odds. Weeks of events, new resources and community building activities culminated on that day with overwhelming nationwide support for a free student press. This year, we relaunched our annual op-ed campaign calling for pieces… Continue reading National, local and student news outlets around the country run op-eds for Student Press Freedom Day

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
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ILLINOIS — 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 3— North Carolina A&T State University’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.
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Q&A with Jarod Hamilton, the editor-in-chief of North Carolina A&T State University's The A&T Register 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… Continue reading HBCU newspaper editors tell us about their work and the significance of Black student journalists reporting Black news (Part 3— North Carolina A&T State University’s The A&T Register)

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

Ariyon Daily, a Black college student, smiling
Ariyon Dailey, the editor-in-chief of Florida A&M University’s The Famuan.
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Q&A with Ariyon Dailey, the editor-in-chief of Florida A&M University’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 2— 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
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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

Censorship of Student Journalists Persists Despite their Essential Role Reporting on COVID, Protests, Racial Justice and Elections, New White Paper Finds
SPLC News

Contact: Hadar Harris, Executive DirectorStudent Press Law Center(202) 549-6316 / hharris@splc.org Student Journalists Celebrate 3rd Annual Student Press Freedom Day on Feb. 26  Washington, D.C. — In anticipation of the 3rd annual Student Press Freedom Day on Friday, Feb. 26th, the Student Press Law Center released a white paper today detailing a continuing pattern of censorship of student journalists by… Continue reading Censorship of Student Journalists Persists Despite their Essential Role Reporting on COVID, Protests, Racial Justice and Elections, New White Paper Finds