"The adults who care about students... should encourage them to speak up, to debate, and, yes, even to fail." That's the case three D.C. high school editors make in an Atlantic essay, arguing that society is quietly teaching a generation to stay quiet. Read more: https://loom.ly/3ySvpH0

The New Chilling Effect

Too many institutions are teaching young people to stay quiet.

theatlantic.com

If you're in New Orleans for this week’s AEJMC 2026 Conference, come say hello! SPLC's Gary Green and Jonathan Gaston-Falk will be around to discuss your legal issues and questions, including in sessions and drop-in hours with our partners at the Center for Community News. #AEJMC26

This past school year, student journalists faced real legal risk, censorship and pressure to stay quiet. But they didn’t back down, and every step of the way, the Student Press Law Center was here to help. Read more in our Impact Report: http://splc.org/impact/

Corallus Meeks, editor-in-chief of The Tattler, recently wrote an op-ed in support of New Voices legislation. “Democracy does not begin when someone turns eighteen and walks into a voting booth. It begins when children learn their voice wields power,” Meeks wrote.

Guest Opinion: Democracy Begins in Student Newsrooms

Journalism serves as an outlet for my passion for social justice. It has fundamentally shaped the way I understand democracy, social justice, and my own responsibility within both. It has

ithaca.com

We're proud to welcome longtime journalist and academic administrator John Haskins to our board. Haskins spent more than three decades at The New York Times and five years as a dean at Columbia Journalism School. 🔗 Read the announcement: https://loom.ly/G8xzwls

See how the Student Press Law Center worked alongside students, educators and partners to defend student press freedom through legal assistance, education and advocacy over the past school year. Read our new impact report: https://loom.ly/iXcjBqY

UMass Dartmouth's only journalism professor was let go, and students say interview rules have gotten more restrictive. SPLC's Mike Hiestand: "The student press is asking the questions. If nobody's asking those questions, school officials can do as they wish." https://loom.ly/NEMhPwc

Snag SPLC merch this weekend and be ready to show your support for #StudentPressFreedom this new school year. All orders are 20% off — now through Sunday. Shop all styles and products at splc.org/store

It takes a lot of courage for students to tell their principals they're wrong, even when the law is on their side. But as Ben and Madison suggest here, it's just another day in the life of a student journalist. We were proud to offer them our support.

WIRED@wired.com · 2w ago

An Instagram post about Jeffrey Epstein’s ties to wealthy communities in Marin County, CA, turned one California student newspaper into a free-speech flash point. The students say they were just doing their homework.

Even though it’s summer, our attorneys are here to answer your legal questions — about copyright, public records, libel, protests, fighting censorship and more. Make sure to bookmark the free SPLC Legal Hotline so it’s ready for your next deadline. 🔗 https://splc.org/legalhelp

Find the Student Press Law Center at this week’s National Association of Hispanic Journalists Conference in New Orleans! Our 4 p.m. Wednesday session will focus on the rising impacts and rising risks of student journalism. More info: https://loom.ly/M-CR9CM

As a UC student journalist, Lucas Griffith was arrested and charged for covering a downtown protest. Now he shares his story. “Ensuring that students can perform their jobs to the fullest extent possible is vital,” he said. Read Griffith’s full story here: https://loom.ly/kuW1L3Q

The Student Press Law Center is proud to announce a generous $100,000 grant from the Henry Luce Foundation to strengthen our legal infrastructure for high school and college student journalists providing vital news and information to their communities. Learn more: https://loom.ly/LNlTnKY

Today, 25 incredible students join us for the start of the New Voices Student Leaders Institute! 🎉 For two weeks, they'll develop their leadership and organizing skills and deepen their understanding of civics, lobbying and press freedom. Meet the new class of leaders: https://loom.ly/Hk44D8g

Educators! We're here to help you start planning for the fall. Did you know you can invite an SPLC attorney into your classroom — virtually & for free — to give a presentation on a media-law topic of your choice? Let's get a session on the books! https://splc.org/speakers/

SPLC in the Classroom - Student Press Law Center

Let us meet you in your classroom or newsroom! Invite an SPLC legal expert to speak to your class or newsroom via Zoom. Speakers will join you for up to 45 minutes (including Q & A) and can present on one of these topics: To book a time with an SPLC legal expert, fill out… Continue reading SPLC in the Classroom

splc.org

As thousands of students across the country walked out of school in January and February to protest Immigration and Customs Enforcement, many student journalists were prevented from covering one of the biggest stories of the year. https://loom.ly/te5WQv0

Deleted photos, silenced voices: ICE walkouts most censored story of the year - Student Press Law Center

As thousands of students across the country walked out of school in January and February to protest the killing of two Minneapolis residents by Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents, many student journalists were prevented from covering one of the biggest stories of the year. It was the single largest subject of censorship reported to SPLC's Legal Hotline this school year.

splc.org

From universities suspending publications or firing advisers, to AI tools surveilling student journalist’s notes, SPLC is tracking eight lawsuits all over the country — the outcomes of which could shape the future of student media. Click here for the full breakdown: https://loom.ly/mCv16zg

Forty years ago today, the Supreme Court ruled that public schools can discipline a student for giving a speech at a school assembly that is “offensively lewd and indecent.” Learn more about this decision and how it limits the rights defined in Tinker v. Des Moines: https://loom.ly/KN3dgrc

Last week, Maryland student journalists spoke at a school board meeting, calling on Montgomery County Schools to rescind a new memo requiring administrative prior review. "Our teachers trust us. The law trusts us. MCPS should, too," sophomore Ian Chen said. https://loom.ly/x0sRo0o

‘This is not the end’: Student journalists concerned about censorship to continue pushback against MCPS

Taylor said a district’s March memo directing principals to review all student publications wasn’t intended to censor students.

bethesdamagazine.com

⌛ Today is the final day to nominate a student journalist (or yourself) for SPLC’s Student Press Freedom Awards! Help us shine a light on courageous students and terrific student reporting using public records. Learn more: https://splc.org/awards

Educators, have you missed Influencer U so far? It's not too late! Join us this week to talk about the law of creator-style journalism. This free webinar series about teaching news content creation runs Tuesdays in June and July. View the speaker lineup and to register: https://loom.ly/M2YRv48

HAPPENING NOW: Maryland student journalists speak at the Montgomery County Board of Education meeting, calling on the district to rescind a memo requiring administrative prior review. Watch live: www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/index.aspx

Nineteen years ago today, the Supreme Court ruled that, while students have a right to political speech at school, their right does not extend to views promoting illegal drug use. Learn more about the “BONG HiTS 4 JESUS” case: https://loom.ly/ojxXKNE

The latest college student news outlet to shift from student org to independent nonprofit — The Emory Wheel. Editors explained that this shift will not only improve the publication’s finances but also enable them to maintain independence amid media turbulence. https://loom.ly/6rJcLys

⚠️ Attention student journalists! There’s only one more week to submit a nomination for SPLC’s Student Press Freedom Awards. Each award comes with a cash prize and is open to high school and college students. Learn more here: https://splc.org/awards

A federal court let the University of Alabama shut down two student magazines — and broke with nearly 60 years of First Amendment precedent to do it. Our new guide breaks down Pointer v. Phelps, what's at stake and how student media can protect themselves. 🔗 https://splc.org/pointer-v-phelps/

Analysis: Pointer v. Phelps - Student Press Law Center

The Student Press Law Center explains legal protections for student media, the Pointer v. Phelps decision and the threats it poses to student press freedom nationwide.

splc.org

Congratulations to Andrew Hum and Kim Hong of Holmdel High School for winning the First Amendment Award from Youth Journalism International! Learn more about Hum and Hong’s experience advocating for student press rights in their 2025 editorial: https://loom.ly/qf5U4Rg

While many college publications around the nation face budget cuts, Prism writes about how some have responded with more in-depth reporting and sounder, more strategic business decisions. Read the full story: https://loom.ly/PCvtDsg

As college newspapers are defunded, student journalists fight back

At least 20 U.S. colleges have significantly cut funding to student media, according to a Prism analysis. Students are taking strategic business risks to sustain newsrooms

prismreports.org

"We have power to organize, we have power to call out [and] keep institutions accountable.” Today, more than 150 Maryland high schoolers did just that — signing a cross-district open letter demanding the district follow the state's press freedom law. 🔗 Their story: https://loom.ly/c7SmtGY

When student journalists tackle a tough story, the instinct to suppress it is both a legal risk and a missed opportunity. SPLC spoke with K-12 Dive about what school leaders should do instead — and why 18 states have New Voices laws protecting student press rights. https://loom.ly/EZrKTJ4