New York Students ‘Call’ for Student Press Freedom

Carolyn Heckle – a junior at Corning-Painted Post High School in Corning, New York – understands the importance of a free press and the power of a phone call. She and her classmates conducted a phone banking effort to advocate for student press freedom through the New York Student Journalist Free Speech Act. The law… Continue reading New York Students ‘Call’ for Student Press Freedom

Teens rally to ‘Stand for Speech’ in NYC

Teens for Press Freedom, New Voices New York, and the Student Press Law Center hosted a rally in support of New York’s Student Journalist Free Speech Act. Teens for Press Freedom, New Voices New York, PEN America, Student Press Law Center, and approximately 40 high school students gathered in New York City to advocate for… Continue reading Teens rally to ‘Stand for Speech’ in NYC

Syracuse paper struggles to cover racist, anti-Semitic incidents and student protests when students, admin won’t talk

#NotAgainSU protesters blocked a road near the building they’re occupying in an attempt to get the chancellor to speak with them. (Photo by Daily Orange Photo Editor Corey Henry)

NEW YORK — Over 30 racist and anti-Semitic incidents have occurred at Syracuse University since Nov. 7, 2019. The Daily Orange, SU’s student paper, has spent months covering the incidents, but has struggled to get the information they need because administration and protesters are hesitant to speak with or provide information to reporters. SU Chancellor Kent… Continue reading Syracuse paper struggles to cover racist, anti-Semitic incidents and student protests when students, admin won’t talk

New York college journalists say PR stands between them and employee interviews

The Chronicle staff, professors, and local journalists sat on a panel Friday ahead of Student Press Freedom Day. Pictured from left to right: Mary Alice Molgard, Emily Paolicelli, Aileen Burke, Angela Ledford, Jackson Wang, and Casey Seiler. (Photo courtesy of Chronicle News Editor Sarah Clark)

NEW YORK — Student reporters of The Saint Rose Chronicle used to freely interview employees of The College of Saint Rose in Albany, but since 2017, that access has been slowly taken away from them, they said. Aileen Burke, former executive editor at The Chronicle said that starting in 2017, employees who were usually happy… Continue reading New York college journalists say PR stands between them and employee interviews

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

Newspapers thrown away at two universities following publication of controversial articles

Editors of the Golden Gate XPress found these papers in a trash can in San Francisco State University’s humanities building. Monserrath Arreola / Golden Gate XPress

As the academic year wound down, college news organizations in San Francisco and Buffalo, N.Y. reported their papers were trashed in an effort to conceal controversial stories. An estimated 2,100 copies of the Golden Gate XPress, San Francisco State University’s student newspaper were stolen on May 15. And at the University at Buffalo in New… Continue reading Newspapers thrown away at two universities following publication of controversial articles

New Voices supporters flood New York statehouse, push lawmakers for progress on bill

More than 80 students traveled to Albany on April 30 for a "lobby day" to persuade lawmakers to support a New Voices bill for New York. Photo by Katina Paron

NEW YORK - Supporters for student press freedoms descended on the New York statehouse in Albany on April 30 to raise the profile on a measure to protect the First Amendment rights of high school journalists who attend public schools. The identical “New Voices” bills in the state Assembly (A03079) and Senate (S02297) — called… Continue reading New Voices supporters flood New York statehouse, push lawmakers for progress on bill

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

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

Hundreds of issues of the Maroon-News stolen, members of swim team found responsible

Hundreds of copies of the Colgate University student newspaper, the Maroon-News were stolen in October. The Maroon-News / Mara Stein

NEW YORK —  Hundreds of copies of the Maroon-News, the student newspaper at Colgate University — which contained a front page story about the men's swimming and diving team being suspended for hazing —  have been stolen. The paper was distributed on the Hamilton campus on Oct. 18, and the next day stacks were missing… Continue reading Hundreds of issues of the Maroon-News stolen, members of swim team found responsible