Legislation Conference

STATE LEGISLATION PROTECTING STUDENT PRESS FREEDOM National Symposium

In November 2008, a year after the passage of a student free expression law by the Oregon legislature and just days after an election that engaged millions of young people and that moved some state legislatures to the left, the Center for Scholastic Journalism at Kent State University hosted the first national symposium to explore the movement for Student Free Press Legislation.  The assembled group of lawyers, journalists, educators and students had high hopes for a reinvigorated movement supporting student freedom bills in states around the country.  But change was slow in coming.  It wasn’t until 2015 when North Dakota passed a student free expression law that the momentum began.  In 2016, two more states (Illinois and Maryland) enacted laws as well.  So in November 2016, eight years after CSJ held its first conversation, we brought together once again a group of national experts to look toward the future of student press freedom laws. The assembled group of lawyers, journalists, educators and students had high hopes for a reinvigorated movement supporting student freedom laws in states around the country. 

STATE LEGISLATION PROTECTING STUDENT PRESS FREEDOM: New voices on the move

CENTER FOR SCHOLASTIC JOURNALISM 2016 SYMPOSIUM VIDEOS

Part 1: Welcome and Introduction

Part 2: Success Stories

Part 3: State Updates

Part 4: After the Law Passes: Making them Work

Part 5: Making the Case and Lobbying: Keys to Success

Part 6: Getting Advisers / Students / Scholastic Press Associations Engaged

Part 7: Anticipating and Responding to Opponents

Part 8: Final Thoughts and Questions

See also the videos from the 2008 symposium entitled State Legislation Protecting Student Press Freedom: Past, Present and Future

STATE LEGISLATION PROTECTING STUDENT PRESS FREEDOM: Past, Present and Future

CENTER FOR SCHOLASTIC JOURNALISM 2008 SYMPOSIUM VIDEOS

Part 1: Welcome & Why We're Here

Part 2: History of the Effort: Current Status Report

Part 3: Existing Laws: Have They Done What Was Intended?

Part 4: Understanding the Legislative Process, Creating a Plan of Action

Part 5: Keynote: Why it Matters?

Part 6: Other State Experiences

Part 7: The Student's Perspective

Part 8: Responding to Opposition

Part 9: Organizing and Making the Case

Part 10: Strategizing: Where Do We Go From Here?

Part 11: Closing Remarks