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NEWS RELEASE: Student Press Law Center Statement on Government Involvement in Promoting “Free Inquiry”

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: March 22, 2019 Contact: Diana Mitsu Klos, SPLC director of engagement, (202) 728-7267 dmk@splc.org We are concerned by the attempt by government to insert itself into “free inquiry” and the debates around free speech on campus at both the federal and state level. Since 1974, the Student Press Law Center has been… Continue reading NEWS RELEASE: Student Press Law Center Statement on Government Involvement in Promoting “Free Inquiry”

Ask SPLC: Can I use copyrighted material as long as I credit the source?

Q.  Can I use copyrighted material (online or otherwise) as long as I properly credit the source? A.  Simply giving credit (for example, "Photo courtesy of The New York Times") usually isn't enough. Unless you can make a fair use argument or unless you're certain that material is not protected by copyright (for example, works… Continue reading Ask SPLC: Can I use copyrighted material as long as I credit the source?

Minnesota’s New Voices bill set to advance in House, faces rougher waters in Senate

Emma Yarger, a student journalist at the Echo at St. Louis Park High School testifies in support of the Minnesota New Voices bill moving through the statehouse. Credit: Grace Farley, The Echo

MINNESOTA - A New Voices bill that would protect student journalists in grades six through 12 is making its way to the House floor of the Minnesota Statehouse. The bill, HF1868, was first introduced four years ago. It took a change of party control in the House, and the bill’s author becoming chair of the… Continue reading Minnesota’s New Voices bill set to advance in House, faces rougher waters in Senate

Arkansas bill adding First Amendment protections for college students signed into law

(Left to right) Bill sponsor Rep. Mark Lowery, Henderson State University student D'erra Talley, Arkansas Press Association executive director Ashley Wimberly, HSU student Sara Densmore, HSU adviser Steve Listopad and HSU student Cle'varus Oney. Credit: Aaron Sadler, Arkansas Press Association communications director.

College students in Arkansas just gained new protections against censorship and prior review, thanks to a new law expanding on long-standing student media protections in the state. Lawmakers unanimously passed the “New Voices” bill, HB1231, and Gov. Asa Hutchinson signed it into law on March 8, 2019. The measure builds on the 1995 Arkansas Student… Continue reading Arkansas bill adding First Amendment protections for college students signed into law

Ask SPLC: Is my newspaper responsible for comments on our posts?

Q: Is my student newspaper legally responsible for online comments that someone outside of our organization may post? A: If the comments are made by outsiders and not your own staff, the Communications Decency Act provides legal shield to you and your website. These protections apply even if you are aware of objectionable content or voluntarily… Continue reading Ask SPLC: Is my newspaper responsible for comments on our posts?

Utah bill that would subject BYU police department to public records law sent to governor’s desk

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A bill that would force campus police to comply with Utah public records law was approved by the state House of Representatives Tuesday. The Senate approved the bill earlier this month, and the measure now goes to Gov. Gary Herbert to sign. The law would expand the definition of a law enforcement agency to cover… Continue reading Utah bill that would subject BYU police department to public records law sent to governor’s desk

PODCAST: New Voices advocates talk struggles and successes

Missouri supporters Mitch Eden, Jack Rintoul, Rep. Deb Lavender, Thora Pearson and Maddie Meyers Photo by: Hannah Hall, Lavender's Chief of Staff
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Cory Dawson: Since 1988, student reporters have lived under a Supreme Court ruling that gives school administrators vast control over what goes into their school’s newspapers. Since then, students, advocates and media advisers have worked to put press freedoms for student journalists into law by passing New Voices laws in 14 states. These laws  protect… Continue reading PODCAST: New Voices advocates talk struggles and successes

Highlights from Year of the Student Journalist

Spearheaded by SPLC, the Freedom Forum Institute and the Newseum, the Year of the Student Journalist will consists of a calendar year (2019) of high-profile national programming and local student-led events designed to raise awareness about the important role of student journalists, the struggles they face, the need for state-based legislation to protect the First Amendment rights of… Continue reading Highlights from Year of the Student Journalist

Newspapers stolen after story about former Catholic university professor accused of child abuse by diocese

Nearly every copy of the Hilltop Views was stolen last month. Newspaper staff ran this "missing" house ad asking the community to let the newspaper know of any information about the theft. Courtesy Matthew San Martin, The Hilltop Views

TEXAS - Nearly every copy of The Hilltop Views, the student newspaper of St. Edward’s University in Austin, was stolen last month after the paper ran a front-page story about a former professor accused by the Catholic Church of sexual abuse in the 1980s. The paper lost about 2,000 copies, and believe the front-page story… Continue reading Newspapers stolen after story about former Catholic university professor accused of child abuse by diocese

Ask SPLC: Do we have the right to reject advertisements?

Q: Is my newspaper legally responsible for online comments that someone outside of our organization may post? A: If the comments are made by outsiders and not your own staff, the Communications Decency Act provides legal shield to you and your website. These protections apply even if you are aware of objectionable content or voluntarily screen… Continue reading Ask SPLC: Do we have the right to reject advertisements?