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
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
Lawmakers unanimously passed HB1231 (now Act 395) in March 2019, which expanded rights initially only granted to K-12 journalists under the 1995 Student Publications Act to cover college journalists as well. The new law protects public college student journalists in the state from interference from their administrators, and protects their advisers from retaliation should their students publish something administrators… Continue reading Act 395 Amending the Arkansas Student Publications Act (2019)
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?
TEXAS — Student tour guides at Baylor University in Texas threw away and moved some student newspapers in what a university spokesperson called a “one-time” incident. During a prospective student day in early February, copies of The Baylor Lariat were moved in two buildings at the direction of an admissions staffer, according to a statement… Continue reading Student tour guides threw away, moved newspapers in “one-time” incident at Baylor University
SOUTH CAROLINA — About 500 copies of The Daily Gamecock, the University of South Carolina student newspaper, disappeared on Feb. 25. Gamecock staff first learned of the theft after a student sent the paper’s news editor a picture of two people walking out of the library with stacks of newspapers. Several other buildings were targeted, including… Continue reading Police are investigating stolen student newspapers in South Carolina
Every month, the Student Press Law Center makes a list of paid journalism internships. Some have upcoming deadlines include outlets in major cities like New York, Boston, Philadelphia and D.C. Other big-name outlets have rolling deadlines. Did we miss any? Send an email to SPLC reporter Cory Dawson to get internship information added. March 4… Continue reading Paid internships for the summer in audio, broadcast and digital open now
Q: We're reviewing a new movie (or a new song, video game, TV show, book, etc.). Can we use an image we found online as an illustration? A: Yes, but you have to be selective. As a general rule, most of material that you find online — whether it's a photo, a story, music, etc. — is… Continue reading Ask SPLC: Can we use an image found online to illustrate a movie review?
More bills protecting the First Amendment rights of student journalists are moving through statehouses than ever before, according to a Student Press Law Center tally. The 11 bills are part of a nationwide effort to pass “New Voices” bills in state legislatures, which effectively counteract and clarify the limits of the 1988 Hazelwood School District… Continue reading A record number of states have introduced New Voices bills in 2019
