STUDENT PRESS LAW SITES

When dealing with student publications, journalism advisers often find themselves needing legal help especially when dealing with administrators, prior review and censorship, Hazelwood updates and the many more current cases that may affect journalism teachers throughout the country. The sites listed here offer basic information as well as archives to previous cases that have impacted student publications.

JEA Press Rights Website - The JEA Press Rights Website offers links dealing with press rights for various publications, photojournalism, articles dealing with the importance of free expression, and activities to help students learn about legal issues. It also offers a section for submitting personal opinions on press rights and for submitting articles that have been censored by administrators.

Freedom Forum: First Amendment - The Freedom Forum: First Amendment site offers current news, analysis and other information concerning the First Amendment and the rights it gives the media industry, not just in schools, but in the professional world. It offers links to First Amendment programs, Supreme Court Files, publications, research packages and upcoming events.

Freedom of Information Center - The Freedom of Information Center serves as a reference and research site where the general public and the media can answer questions about access to government documents and information. It has links to its FOI Advocate Newsletter, Government FOIA Webpages, state and international FOI law, and federal and state cases.

The Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press - The Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press provides free legal help to journalists and news organizations through publication of current articles and their quarterly magazine The News Media & The Law. Users of this site also have access to a toll-free legal defense hotline, an automatic FOI Letter Generator, and much more.

Student Press Law Center - The Student Press Law Center offers free legal advice and information for student journalists and instructors. Instructors can receive free telephone advice on any media law topic, letters providing written opinions, analysis of cases and litigation, and information about workshops, internships, and a clearhouse for information on legal issues.