Several First Amendment organizations dedicated to protecting student rights recognize that in the Internet age, it is even more important that students understand the possible consequences of their speech. The popularity of social networking sites, including MySpace.com and Facebook.com, is increasing, with MySpace becoming the most visited site on the Internet in July 2006.
Tag: Winter 2006-07
Administrative records more open in California
A California Court ofAppeal's decision to open investigative reports regarding a former schooladministrator to a local newspaper is a victory for both professional andstudent journalists in the state, the paper's editor said.
Taking the plunge
As media sources increasingly use technology and the Internet to disseminate up-to-the-second information, experts say that student media groups may lead the way. While many student newspapers have online versions of their paper, The Campus Lantern is the first college student media organization to cease print publication and create an online-only daily newspaper, said Consultant Bryan Murley from The Center for Innovation of College Media, a think tank assisting student media in adapting and flourishing in the new media environment.
Native tongue
In tribal college media, student journalists and their advocates say they treasure independence, and they know that in the past, freedom of the press has been considered optional by school officials.
Trashing their image
Orientation issues are a staple for most college student newspapers and often offer freshmen a first glimpse into college life. But it is the audience that these freshman guides target — new students and their parents — that student editors say makes school administrators especially wary about content.
College papers around the country run editorial to support ousted USC editor
Eighteen college newspapers published the same editorial on Dec. 5 in support of Fox, who had been re-elected by the Daily Trojan's staff but was not approved by the university's media board.
Ineffective protections: A recent court decision has rendered California's private college free-expression law useless, advocates say
First Amendment advocates say a recent California Supreme Court decision not to hear an appeal from a former Occidental College radio host has left a gaping hole in California’s Leonard Law, which affords freedom of expression protection to private college students.
Lawsuits explore religion, freedom of expression
In September, a federal court ruled the that Saginaw School District in Michigan had violated the First Amendment rights of Hadley Elementary School student Joel Curry when the school did not allow him to hand out an ornament with a religious message attached.
Naming Names
SPLC announces additions to free high school online resources
The Student Press Law Center is pleased to announce new additions to ourWeb site especially for high school teachers and student media advisers as wellas student journalists: two new Media Law Presentations and an expansionof the Test Your Knowledge of Student Press Law onlinequiz.