Conversations at the Schoolhouse Gate

Episode Notes To celebrate the end of Scholastic Journalism Week 2023 and to affirm the importance of Bold Journalism and Brave Advocacy, Diana Day rounded up former and current Editors in Chief and others from her own school and asked them to explain what student press rights mean to them Find out more at https://schoolhousegate.pinecast.co

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

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

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

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

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

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

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 sprc@jea.org 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

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 sprc@jea.org 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

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 sprc@jea.org 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

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 sprc@jea.org 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

Episode Notes After defining the terms "prior review," "prior restraint" and "self-censorship," Archer School for Girls journalism adviser Kristin Taylor interviews Archer's Upper School Director Gretchen Warner and student editor-in-chief Anna Brodsky about the relationship between this private school's free student press and its administration. If you are a student or a student media adviser with a story about prior review or restraint, we want to hear from you. You can reach us at sprc@jea.org 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.

Episode 5 - 50 Years of Tinker with Mark Goodman This episode celebrates the 50th anniversary of the Tinker v. Des Moines decision. Kent State University Knight Chair Mark Goodman explains the importance of the Tinker case and high school students share what Tinker means to them. Check out the Student Press Law Center's brand-new website at SPLC.org and follow them online at @SPLC. Contact the Scholastic Press Rights Committee at www.jeasprc.org at any time, and find us on Twitter at @jeapressrights; learn more about New Voices at NewVoicesUS.com.

Episode 4 - SPLC 101 with Hadar Harris The Student Press Law Center is an invaluable resource for student journalists and advisers nationwide. In this first of a series of conversations with SPLC Executive Director Hadar Harris, we explore the mission and work of the SPLC and learn about their staff and resources, including their network of volunteer lawyers who stand ready to assist students facing censorship. Check out the Student Press Law Center's brand-new website at SPLC.org and follow them online at @SPLC. Contact the Scholastic Press Rights Committee at www.jeasprc.org at any time, and find us on Twitter at @jeapressrights; learn more about New Voices at NewVoicesUS.com.

Episode 3 - Kathy Schrier - NV Washington It was a long fight, but it was worth it: on March 21, 2018, Governor Jay Inslee, surrounded by two dozen student journalists and advisers, signed Washington's New Voices bill into law. One of the members of the Washington coalition was Kathy Schrier, former adviser and current executive director of the Washington Journalism Education Association. In this episode, she takes a look back at Washington's successful campaign, and the resilience and persistence that it took to protect the scholastic press freedoms of student journalists in the state. Contact the Scholastic Press Rights Committee at www.jeasprc.org at any time, and find us on Twitter at @jeapressrights; learn more about New Voices at NewVoicesUS.com.

Episode 2 - New Voices with Steve Listopad In this first chapter of a multi-episode primer on New Voices, we talk with Steve Listopad, now of Henderson State University, about the beginnings of New Voices. We start where it did - in North Dakota, back in 2013.Contact the Scholastic Press Rights Committee at www.jeasprc.org at any time, and find us on Twitter at @jeapressrights; learn more about New Voices at NewVoicesUS.com.

Episode 1 - Neha Madhira In this first episode of "Conversations...," we talk with senior editor-in-chief Neha Madhira of Prosper High School (Texas), who faced censorship and prior review from her principal last year as an editor with Eagle Nation Online. Now an advocate for New Voices Texas (@VoicesTexas), Madhira shares her experience and advice for student journalists who may be facing the same struggles in their own publicaton labs. Contact the Scholastic Press Rights Committee at www.jeasprc.org at any time, and find us on Twitter at @jeapressrights; learn more about New Voices at NewVoicesUS.com.