Tom Gayda's Philosophy of the Student Press
It is my belief all citizens are afforded the right to a free press. The student press should be no different.
Granted, the scholastic press is unique. Students are learning the craft of journalism while they practice it, but the First Amendment does not require a person to have a degree in journalism before they start practicing. Nor does a person need to be 18 or older, a voter or someone who owns land. The First Amendment is for all of us.
Students will make mistakes. No surprise, professionals make mistakes, too. But the students are learning and to limit their rights is not teaching them how to function in a democratic society.
Student journalists abide by the same laws of the professional press and often times the same code of ethics. Students are capable of acting professionally while they report.
I am adamantly opposed to prior review and censorship. Learning does not take place in these situations. Especially in public schools, which are an arm of the government, censorship is outright bad business as the U.S., according to the constitution, allows for a free press. The government can't ignore it's own constitution simply because it is engaging in a business typically reserved for private businesses.
Further, when students are censored the stories in question often see the light of day in other media forms. Attempts at censorship only enlarge the potential audience.
It is my belief all citizens are afforded the right to a free press. The student press should be no different.
Granted, the scholastic press is unique. Students are learning the craft of journalism while they practice it, but the First Amendment does not require a person to have a degree in journalism before they start practicing. Nor does a person need to be 18 or older, a voter or someone who owns land. The First Amendment is for all of us.
Students will make mistakes. No surprise, professionals make mistakes, too. But the students are learning and to limit their rights is not teaching them how to function in a democratic society.
Student journalists abide by the same laws of the professional press and often times the same code of ethics. Students are capable of acting professionally while they report.
I am adamantly opposed to prior review and censorship. Learning does not take place in these situations. Especially in public schools, which are an arm of the government, censorship is outright bad business as the U.S., according to the constitution, allows for a free press. The government can't ignore it's own constitution simply because it is engaging in a business typically reserved for private businesses.
Further, when students are censored the stories in question often see the light of day in other media forms. Attempts at censorship only enlarge the potential audience.
