It has been a turbulent year in the courts for student journalism, with a number of decided and ongoing cases that could have long-lasting implications for student press freedom and beyond. The Student Press Law Center reviews where eight of these cases stand right now.
More than 150 student journalists from all 25 public high schools in Montgomery County, Maryland, sent an open letter today demanding their district comply with the state’s New Voices legislation after the release of an alarming memo that requires principals to read and approve every story before publication.
A coalition of 14 national journalism organizations sent a letter Tuesday to Indiana University administrators, urging them to act on a student media task force’s recommendations — and warning that the press freedom community is still watching.
This month, student journalists sat down with the Student Press Law Center to discuss how they’re helping cover the millions of documents released in connection to several Epstein investigations, and how to defend accurate reporting when powerful people push back.
At the Student Press Law Center, we recognize that the need to defend and advance student press freedom has never been greater. As the challenges facing student journalists grow more complex, we are responding with a strategic plan that sharpens our focus and strengthens how we support students, educators and advisers in this moment.
Amid escalating student press censorship, funding cuts and other challenges, participants in the 2026 State of Student Press Freedom webinar made it clear that students aren’t cowering under these growing threats. Instead, they are actively fighting them.
So far in the 2026 legislative session, six states have introduced New Voices bills to undo the effects of Hazelwood, while advocates in other states are looking to follow.
A Student Press Law Center-led coalition filed an amicus brief in a federal lawsuit today to highlight the widespread chilling effect on student voices caused by recent immigration enforcement actions.
April 2025 Student Media AlertDownload National student media organizations today took the unprecedented step of releasing a “Student Media Alert” to warn about the current threats to student speech posed by recent immigration enforcement actions on campuses across the country. The alert recommends student media leaders revisit their policies on takedown requests and anonymous sources,… Continue reading Student media groups warn of unprecedented threats
