S3E2 -What is Student Press Freedom Day?

A discussion with SPLC digital strategist Danielle Dieterich about the origins of the annual celebration.

Episode Notes

In honor of the fifth annual Student Press Freedom Day, Diana Day interviews Student Press Law Center digital strategist Danielle Dieterich about the origins of this celebration of student press freedom. Dieterich explains how the day evolved from its humble origins on the back of an envelope in 2018 to its current iteration, with more than 30 partner organizations. The 2023 theme, Bold Journalism and Brave Advocacy, celebrates student journalists and their advsers fighting for students' First Amendment rights. Dieterich also describes some of the current issues student journalists are facing across the country.

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S3E1 -Quick Tips: Getting public records through FOIA requests

Student journalists can get public records just like the pros. Here are some tips.

Episode Notes

In this quick tip episode, learn how to access public records impacting your school community through FOIA (Freedom of Information Act) requests. Data your school district keeps for its own information or to report out to the state or federal government is an important resource for journalists. It can reveal patterns and statistics that belie the school’s reputation for better or for worse. It can help reveal positive or alarming trends in student discipline, achievement, attendance or safety. Students often don’t think about accessing this information, but it can help frame the most telling and informative stories at your school. This tip is based on SPRC member John Bowen's writing on our website: https://jeasprc.org/foia-requests/

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S2E4 -F- Cheer: What the Mahanoy v BL ruling means for students' First Amendment rights

Episode Notes

In this episode, we look at the Mahanoy v BL case which the Supreme Court ruled on in June. It focuses on student rights of free expression using social media off campus. The very limited decision, siding with the student raised as many questions as it answered. Tripp Robbins interviews law professors and First Amendment attorneys Sommer Ingram Dean (also of Student Press Law Center) and Jim Wagstaffe. 

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S2E3 -A Cheerleader, the F-Bomb and Student Expression

Episode Notes

In this episode, we look at a case now at the Supreme Court centered on a high school sophomore, her Snapchat post - and four uses of the F-bomb. The implications for student free expression and free press are troubling. Tripp Robbins interviews law professor and First Amendment attorney Jim Wagstaffe who puts this case, B.L. v Mahanoy, in context of landmark student press decisions. 

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S2E2 -Editorial Boards: A Layer of Protection for Student Voices

Episode Notes

In this episode, we look at the protections an editorial board offers student journalists. Diana Day speaks with her co-adviser Debra Galler, Editor-in-Chief Sam Bitman, and Terry Bitman, longtime journalist, journalism professor, and Sam's grandfather, to discuss the establishment of their school newspaper's first editorial board.

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S2E1 -Student Media and Political Endorsements: Pros and Cons

Episode Notes

In the first installment of our second season, this election-season episode looks at the pros and cons of political endorsements. It considers the potential benefits and drawbacks of a student publication wading into political discourse. Can a publication recommend a candidate and still be respected as accurately presenting news? What are the differences between op-eds and outright endorsements? Our guest is the editor of the award-winning Half Moon Bay Review, Clay Lambert.

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S1E10 -Don't get disqualified: JOY and copyright infringement

Episode Notes

JOY Committee Chair Rebecca Pollard says it breaks her heart when she has to disqualify an otherwise great portfolio because of copyright infringement. This episode provides a brief overview of the JEA's Journalist of the Year scholarship competition and provides concrete strategies to ensure each portfolio follows copyright laws.

If you are a student or a student media adviser with a story about scholastic press freedom or a question about press law or ethics, we want to hear from you. You can reach us at [email protected] with the subject line “Podcast” or tweet us at @jeapressrights. So you don’t miss out on future episodes, please subscribe to this podcast through any of the many podcast applications available for your computer or phone.

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S1E9 -Photojournalism during school crisis

Student journalists at Palo Alto High School illustrate the tension between press freedom, public safety and ethics during a crisis at their school

Episode Notes

In this episode, Menlo School adviser Tripp Robbins asks student journalists what they would do during a rumor-filled crisis at school and then interviews students at Palo Alto High School in California who actually dealt with one. The students and their adviser, Paul Kandell, talk about the challenges of shooting photos of breaking news and lessons they learned.

If you are a student or a student media adviser with a story about scholastic press freedom, we want to hear from you. You can reach us at [email protected] with the subject line “Podcast” or tweet us at @jeapressrights. So you don’t miss out on future episodes, please subscribe to this podcast through any of the many podcast applications available for your computer or phone.

Find out more at https://schoolhousegate.pinecast.co

S1E8 -A second chance at New Voices in Virginia

Adviser Tiffany Kopcak discusses the second New Voices campaign in Virginia and offers tips for students in other states.

Episode Notes

Harrisonburg High School journalism adviser Emilee Hussack interviews fellow Virginian adviser Tiffany Kopcak about the second campaign to try to pass New Voices legislation in Virginia. Kopcak offers suggestions for students wanting to contact their own delegates or begin their own campaigns to create or support New Voices legislation in their own states.

If you are a student or a student media adviser with a story about scholastic press freedom, we want to hear from you. You can reach us at [email protected] with the subject line “Podcast” or tweet us at @jeapressrights. So you don’t miss out on future episodes, please subscribe to this podcast through any of the many podcast applications available for your computer or phone.

Find out more at https://schoolhousegate.pinecast.co

S1E7 -Hate speech as free speech — some thoughts for student media

Interview with SPLC lawyer Mike Hiestand exploring the difficult topic of hate speech, the law and what student journalists need to know

After giving some background about the the term "hate speech" and its legal status, Menlo School journalism adviser Tripp Robbins interviews Student Press Law Center lawyer Mike Hiestand about hate speech, the First Amendment and student media. While offensive speech is protected by the First Amendment, Hiestand clarifies some situations where it might cross over into an unprotected speech category, such as "fighting words," and reminds student editors that some decisions are ethical rather than legal.

If you are a student or a student media adviser with thoughts on this episode, we want to hear from you. You can reach us at [email protected] with the subject line “Podcast” or tweet us at @jeapressrights. So you don’t miss out on future episodes, please subscribe to this podcast through any of the many podcast applications available for your computer or phone.

Find out more at https://schoolhousegate.pinecast.co

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