Ask SPLC: What can private school students do when they’re censored?

Q: Do private school students have any recourse when their free speech rights are stripped? A: Options for fighting private school censorship can vary significantly from school to school. As you are probably already aware, you don't have First Amendment protection from censorship in private schools, so you have to look elsewhere. Reminder: The First Amendment only protects… Continue reading Ask SPLC: What can private school students do when they’re censored?

Student journalists unify, call for new and stronger press freedoms

The Torch, Bergen Community College (Paramus, N.J.) Photo courtesy of Edriel Fimbres, photo editor

On a day of coordinated national action, student journalists and their allies published editorials, held events and flooded social media to defend student press freedoms that have increasingly come under attack. The Student Press Law Center dubbed Jan. 30 Student Press Freedom day — a day when student journalists were encouraged to speak out about… Continue reading Student journalists unify, call for new and stronger press freedoms

Arkansas high school paper republishes censored story, but prior review and threat to adviser’s job remain

Halle Roberts (middle right) and Jack Williams (right) stand with other staff members of The Herald in Har-Ber High School in Springdale, Ark. Photo courtesy of Jack Williams

ARKANSAS — An Arkansas school district drew national criticism after it apparently broke state law by censoring the paper and halting its publication. The district also announced it would implement prior review. Springdale Public Schools backtracked and allowed online publication of the censored story and editorial, but significant obstacles remain unresolved. The Student Press Law… Continue reading Arkansas high school paper republishes censored story, but prior review and threat to adviser’s job remain

450 issues of The OU Daily stolen — writer thinks it’s attempted censorship of front page sexual harassment story

An OU Daily newsstand stands empty outside of the Fred Jones Jr. Art Center Sept. 17. Several newsstands were emptied after an article on sexual harassment allegations against the former School of Drama director was published on the front page. The OU Daily / Kathryn Stacy

OKLAHOMA — An estimated 450 issues of The OU Daily were stolen on Sept. 17 from multiple locations across the University of Oklahoma Norman campus. The stolen issue featured a front page article about sexual harassment allegations against a tenured drama professor who remains at the university but resigned in August from his position as director of the School of… Continue reading 450 issues of The OU Daily stolen — writer thinks it’s attempted censorship of front page sexual harassment story

Vermont high school students use New Voices law to win censorship dispute

BHS Register editors speak to the Burlington school board on Thursday. Left to right: Jenna Peterson, Julia Shannon-Grillo, and Halle Newman. VTDigger / Lola Duffort

VERMONT — Student journalists at Burlington High School used the state’s New Voices law to successfully fight back against censorship and prevent the reinstatement of a prior review policy. On Sept. 10, the BHS Register was the first to report  about an investigation by the Vermont Agency of Education focused on the school’s director of guidance, Mario Macias.… Continue reading Vermont high school students use New Voices law to win censorship dispute

SPLC sends letter to Texas school district to stop censoring student media, 17 orgs sign on

Following multiple instances of censorship of an award-winning online student newspaper and the ouster of its acclaimed adviser, the Student Press Law Center asks district administrators overseeing Prosper (Texas) High School to update its publications policy in line with the First Amendment right to free press.

As college publications fight to stay independent of their administrations, newsrooms are banding together to #SaveStudentNewsrooms
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Save Student Newsrooms calls on student-run publications to run editorials that highlight the need for student media on April 25 — the unofficial Support Student Journalism Day. They also ask alumni of student newsrooms to share their experiences with student media and to consider donating to their student paper.