Scholastic Journalism Week (SJW) is coming up this Feb. 24-28. The celebration includes Press Freedom Day – which takes place the Thursday of SJW! There are many useful resources and lesson plans that center around the themes of Press Freedom for this year’s Scholastic Journalism Week. Leading up to that week, there are themed events to help students prepare! These events are starting this week on Tuesday:
Tuesday, Feb. 4, at 7 p.m. ET / 4 p.m. PT
Before you advocate for advancing student press freedom, learn where things stand now and how we got here. Join this crash course on the law of the student press led by SPLC’s Senior Legal Counsel Mike Hiestand, with a special appearance by Cathy Kuhlmeier, one of the student journalists who brought Hazelwood v. Kuhlmeier. Register here!
Wednesday, Feb. 5, at 7 p.m. ET / 4 p.m. PT
Op-eds are one great way to raise awareness about issues affecting student journalists in your state or community. Join this boot camp to take your op-ed writing and pitching skills to the next level by learning from Pratika Katiyar, a Gen Z journalist and advocate with op-eds published in CNN, Her Campus, The Sacramento Bee and more. Register here!
New Voices and Beyond: Advocating for Student Press Freedom
Thursday, Feb. 6, at 7 p.m. ET / 4 p.m. PT
Eighteen states have laws against the censorship of student journalists — and it’s all because people like you spoke up. Is your state next? Once you pass a law, then what? Join us to learn more about the New Voices campaign and what states are in play this year, plus other steps you can take to advocate for student press freedom in your district or state before and after a law passes. Register here!
Check out this list of 50 Ways to Celebrate Student Press Freedom Day to help you and your students brainstorm! Whatever you do, the Journalism Education Association and the Student Press Law Center (SPLC) would love to hear about it by email or social media. If you post it online, feel free to tag SPLC and/or use #studentpressfreedom.
In addition to making sure your journalism students know about their rights, some activities they might consider for the day (and week):
- Advocate for student press freedom, such as by writing a letter to your legislator supporting New Voices or exploring whether your district’s policies on student media need an update.
- Invite people in to see your process to increase trust (and appreciation for your rights), such as by hosting an open house or inviting an admin or elected official into your newsroom. That’s how New Voices in Washington state got started!
- Educate your outlet’s audiences about student press freedom and your role on campus, through editorials, op-eds, an info booth, reporting on press freedom issues, etc. What censorship or other challenges do you face?
- Do powerful, accountability journalism!
