When you think of journalism, what comes to mind? When you think of student journalism, what changes? Maybe not much — but for student journalists, their status as students means everything.

With the national Student Press Freedom Day scheduled to take place on Thursday, Feb. 22, teachers and students in Texas have an opportunity to discuss what elements of student press rights are protected by the First Amendment and U.S. Supreme Court rulings and what is not.

Sadly, cases of administrative censorship for student media publications across the nation are not uncommon. In 1988’s Hazelwood v. Kuhlmeier, the United States Supreme Court gave public high school administration the ability to censor student publications if they have a “legitimate pedagogical concern” — vague language that allows schools to practice arbitrary censorship. 

This ruling went against almost 20 years of precedent set by the 1969 Tinker v. Des Moines Supreme Court case that ruled that no student sheds their First Amendment rights as they cross the schoolhouse gate after students wore black armbands to school to protest the Vietnam War. 

Since then, 17 states have taken steps to remedy this threat to student journalism by passing state laws (known as New Voices laws) that clarify what can be censored and what cannot. Why not Texas?

New Voices Texas invites educators and students to participate in various events during Scholastic Journalism Week (Feb. 19-23) — especially Student Press Freedom Day (Feb. 22) — to learn more about how students can advocate for student press rights.

New Voices Texas is a youth-led advocacy movement that organizes student leaders to enact legislation to counteract the consequences of the Hazelwood decision. We seek to help students, advisors, and Texas communities to work against the challenges that threaten student First Amendment rights. 

Student Press Freedom Day and the Journalism Education Association’s Scholastic Journalism Week are important days of action to amplify the efforts of student journalists nationwide and increase visibility for the key roles they play in their respective campuses and greater communities. 

What we’re asking you is to join us. Promote the cause on your campus, your community, your world. 

Here’s some ways to take action on Student Press Freedom Day. 

The Student Press Law Center has developed a list of 50 ways everyone can get involved in raising awareness about student press rights. Check out all of the categories of activities for educators, students, student media and non-educators. There is literally something for everyone!

There are also various virtual events SPLC is hosting with various partners over the next week so don’t miss out on the chance to get involved in fight.

Stay connected with New Voices Texas.

Being connected to our organization only helps us better spread the word about the importance of student journalism and helps us achieve our goals. Sign up for our email notification list here, and access our website along with other resources and information here.

Participate in JEA’s Scholastic Journalism Week.

The Journalism Education Association has supported free and responsible scholastic journalism for 100 years this year. Teachers, utilize your time in the classroom through JEA’s resources to spark meaningful conversations amongst your journalists to encourage discussion in your school, community, and district about what you can do to protect student press rights in Texas.

Open the Google Doc lessons below and “make a copy” to save the file for future use and make adjustments for your classroom.

Monday, Feb. 19 — First Amendment

Tuesday, Feb. 20 — Journalism Then

Wednesday, Feb. 21 — Journalism Now

Thursday, Feb. 22 — Student Press Freedom Day

Friday, Feb. 23 — Journalism Next

Throughout the week, and throughout the year, use the hashtags #SJW2024 and #HeretoStay when you share works of journalism from your staff, reminding your community of the importance of scholastic journalism. You can do this on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram.

Promote Student Press Freedom Day on your campus

Present NVT’s template lesson on the history of student press freedom in Texas to your publication staff or school campus.

Have your publication editors and your school principals sign the NVT publication and administrator’s pledge, to stand against student press censorship.

Share the work you do on social media and tag NVT (Instagram: @newvoicestx, Facebook: @newvoicestexas and Threads @newvoicestx)

Utilize NVT’s resources for censorship during Student Press Freedom Day and week. 

Use NVT’s template letter to write to state officials encouraging them to support student press rights bills.

Fill out NVT’s censorship stories survey to report on the current state of censorship in Texas and beyond here. 

Post NVT’s social media templates to encourage awareness in your school. 

Initiate conversations with administration at your school through NVT’s guide on how to approach an administrator about student press rights. 

Use the Student Press Law Center’s resources during class and through social media to increase awareness. 

Know self censorship when you see it and be empowered to tell your own stories by taking SPLC’s Self Censorship Quiz

Use SPLC’s presentation template in class on Student Press Freedom Day. 

For more resources: 

• News Literacy Project Lesson on the First Amendment and Back to School with Student Press Rights Webinar
• Video: NVT and student newspaper advisor David Doerr discusses press freedom at the Texas Freedom of Information Foundation panel discussion.
• TedTalk Video: Former NVT member and student press censorship victim Neha Madira shares with former editor Haley Stack about fighting back against the threat of censorship.

NVT encourages you to take advantage of these resources, and to promote student journalism freedom the best you can this February during Student Press Freedom Day and Scholastic Journalism Week. 

Stay Powerfully Persistent. 

Thanks, 

New Voices Texas Officers