A Supreme Court ruling and the Student Press Freedom Awards will keep us all busy this summer. Explore outstanding student journalism!
Talking student censorship in New England
“This really is a case that is going to change the relationship that our next generation of citizens have with the government.” -Mike Hiestand
SPLC Senior Legal Counsel Mike Hiestand recently joined the New England First Amendment Coalition to talk about the ongoing Supreme Court student speech case BL v. Mahanoy.
At the center of the case is a question of control– should school administrators have the ability to censor students while off-campus?
The SPLC believes students should be held to the same standards as any other citizen while away from the school. If the court rules in favor of Mahanoy Area School District, administrators would be granted the power to censor students as they go about every other aspect of their lives.
For more on the case, check out our 5-minute guide, which includes the stakes, timeline and where to access the court files.
How student reporters investigated their campuses (Poynter)
We're loving all the student reporting collected in Poynter's College Media Project exploring topics like the intersection of race and healthcare during COVID and the need for administrative transparency around Title IX. More importantly, student journalists say participating in the project changed the way their outlets approach long-term reporting and provided them with the tools and contacts necessary to tell more complete stories.
We’re seeking student journalists to recognize for persisting through tough circumstances to tell a story critically important to their classmates and community.
One high school and one college winner will receive a Student Press Freedom Award from SPLC. Each award comes with a cash prize for the winning student’s news organization. The submission deadline (covering stories published during the 2020-21 academic year) is June 1.
Q: Can my public school cut funds to my student publication because they don’t like the stories we are producing?
A: Absolutely not. This is censorship. At a public school, student editors are responsible for determining the content that will be published in their student media outlet. Legally, they must be allowed to do this free of any pressure, intimidation, or threats from school officials, including your student media adviser. Any changes to your publication’s funding that are predicated on content are unconstitutional. You should contact us if you are facing this situation.
Your individual donations help us defend the rights of student journalists and their advisers across the country. High school and college news organizations can show their support for SPLC's legal hotline and other core services by becoming a member.
