Hadar Harris, executive director at the Student Press Law Center, shares her thoughts on updates in the recent Nebraska censorship case.
Cautiously optimistic: Pushing for full reinstatement of the Viking Saga
Tag: Nebraska
CENSORSHIP ALERT: Student paper shut down for LGBTQIA+ coverage
School officials at Northwest Public Schools in Nebraska shut down the Viking Saga after the paper covered LGBTQIA+ issues.
Nebraska high school journalist refuses to back down, publishes her censored article on Confederate flags and racism at school in local paper
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.”
Nebraska high school censors student editorial about censorship, and journalism adviser resigns
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
New Voices bills see success and defeat in 2019 state legislative sessions
The New Voices movement has made significant strides in 2019, with a record number of state bills (11) introduced, and two measures adopted in Arkansas to strengthen protections for student journalists. New Voices is a student-powered nonpartisan grassroots movement of state-based advocates who seek to protect student press freedom with state laws. These laws counteract… Continue reading New Voices bills see success and defeat in 2019 state legislative sessions
Nebraska New Voices bill times out for this session, but will be back in 2020
UPDATE: A New Voices bill heads to the floor of the Nebraska Unicameral Legislature in early 2020. LB206 passed through legislative committees, but wasn't heard on the floor during the 2019 session, which ended June 6. It will carry over into the 2020 session, which starts in January. The bill is the tenth of 86… Continue reading Nebraska New Voices bill times out for this session, but will be back in 2020
PODCAST: New Voices advocates talk struggles and successes
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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
A record number of states have introduced New Voices bills in 2019
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
Nebraska New Voices bill stalls, dies in committee
Student journalists in Nebraska will have to wait at least another year for New Voices, as the Judiciary Committee is not expected to take any action on the bill.
‘Husker Do! Live from Lincoln Senate, students take center stage
As a high-school student in Sioux Falls, S.D., Adam Morfeld was threatened with expulsion for distributing a homemade "underground" newspaper. Funny thing about those high-school troublemakers: Sometimes they have long memories. In 2018, state senator Adam Morfeld sat before the Nebraska Senate Judiciary Committee to explain why he's proposing a law (LB 886) to protect… Continue reading ‘Husker Do! Live from Lincoln Senate, students take center stage