Guest MINDSETTER™ Forleo: Rhode Island Looks to Protect Student Journalists
Sunday, July 09, 2017
Student-journalists and their advisers deserve protection from censorship and retaliation, and Rhode Island is about to legislate such security.
It appears HB5550 and S600 passed both chambers prior to the legislative freeze-frame at then of June. This highly important legislation will give elementary, secondary, and postsecondary students control over their “school sponsored media and non-school sponsored media, regardless of whether the media is supported financially by the school.”
Hazelwood v. Kuhlmeier
GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLASTEver since SCOTUS' onerous Hazelwood decision in 1988 (upholding a Missouri school’s right to censor stories written by student-journalists), administrators could basically alter/redact any form of student expression. I guess you could say they acted like overprotective parents dictating what's acceptable and fit to print. Anything unfavorable could be summarily edited, clearly infringing on the right to free speech, and a free press, not to mention possibly introducing prior restraint on young minds they purported to educate.
However, thanks to the Student Press Law Center, and its director, Frank LoMonte, a breaking news alert is sweeping the country, with Rhode Island close to joining.
According to LoMonte, "House Bill 5550 sends the message to journalism students and teachers that they are trusted and valued, and that they can do their civic watchdog duties without fear. With the governor's approval, Rhode Island will leave behind outdated last-century thinking that we can "protect" students from controversial ideas by tearing pages out of newspapers."
The New Voices legislation has now been passed in 12 states, with our very own Little Rhody about to be lucky number 13. Not bad, considering we were the 13th state to join the Union.
Protection for Advisers
This legislation not only grants students full autonomy in publication but also protects advisers from any reprisal, resulting from any assistance or advice given to students, if requested. That's welcome news to all of us who have dedicated ourselves to helping these courageous students. This legislation clearly states advisers “may not be dismissed, suspended, disciplined, reassigned, transferred, or otherwise retaliated against” for actions taken protecting student-journalists’ editorial decisions.
With private and public colleges morphing into corporations, students now referred to as customers and the lack of transparency from college administrations now rivaling Wall Street investment banks, HB 5550 and S600 will safeguard our ability to offer cogent, reasoned advice on any investigative articles.
Many administrators across the country really don't understand that, at all. Many are quick to blame the adviser and Editor in Chief for inaccuracies in reporting, but often feign support for student-journalists while they exercise the power of a free press. A question of hypocrisy arises when administrators might include a college community to present a positive spin on a story which could be unflattering to the institution, while at the same time condemn a publication, students, (and advisers) for starting a conversation on that same story, which otherwise never would have been brought to light until it was too late to offer inclusive dialogue.
Steve Brown from the Rhode Island ACLU explains the importance of HB 5550 and S600 this way, "When students are taught the importance of the First Amendment in their civic classes, administrative censorship of the school newspaper makes a mockery of those lessons. This bill removes the hypocrisy and recognizes the important role that student journalists play in promoting freedom of the press."
Important Legislation
The timing of this legislation is paramount. As we continue to see college presidents hired from private industry, bringing in corporate top-down edicts, student newspapers will take on more and more responsibility in covering these so-called “culture changes” directly impacting student learning, true shared governance, and academic offerings.
Moreover, never has journalism been so important to the educative process. Student-journalists must not walk away from investigating hard-hitting stories because they feel intimidated, may lose a letter of recommendation, or even self-censor content for fear of retaliation.
Rhode Island, through this legislation, is sending a message loud and clear across the country. A message carrying with it, strong support for the Fourth Estate, student-journalists, their advisers, and most importantly, the amendment we call the First.
Steven F. Forleo is a professor of English at CCRI, creator, co-founder, and extremely proud adviser to The Unfiltered Lens, the student-driven publication at CCRI.
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