Student Press Law Center
@splc
Free legal help and info for student journalists. Champion of their First Amendment rights. 🏛️ Legal Hotline: SPLC.org/legalhelp ✉️ Subscribe: SPLC.org/newsletter 🤝 Support student press freedom: SPLC.org/donate
Snag SPLC merch this weekend and be ready to show your support for #StudentPressFreedom this new school year. All orders are 20% off — now through Sunday. Shop all styles and products at splc.org/store
Even though it’s summer, our attorneys are here to answer your legal questions — about copyright, public records, libel, protests, fighting censorship and more. Make sure to bookmark the free SPLC Legal Hotline so it’s ready for your next deadline. 🔗 https://splc.org/legalhelp
Find the Student Press Law Center at this week’s National Association of Hispanic Journalists Conference in New Orleans! Our 4 p.m. Wednesday session will focus on the rising impacts and rising risks of student journalism. More info: https://loom.ly/M-CR9CM
The Student Press Law Center is proud to announce a generous $100,000 grant from the Henry Luce Foundation to strengthen our legal infrastructure for high school and college student journalists providing vital news and information to their communities. Learn more: https://loom.ly/LNlTnKY
Today, 25 incredible students join us for the start of the New Voices Student Leaders Institute! 🎉 For two weeks, they'll develop their leadership and organizing skills and deepen their understanding of civics, lobbying and press freedom. Meet the new class of leaders: https://loom.ly/Hk44D8g
Forty years ago today, the Supreme Court ruled that public schools can discipline a student for giving a speech at a school assembly that is “offensively lewd and indecent.” Learn more about this decision and how it limits the rights defined in Tinker v. Des Moines: https://loom.ly/KN3dgrc
⌛ Today is the final day to nominate a student journalist (or yourself) for SPLC’s Student Press Freedom Awards! Help us shine a light on courageous students and terrific student reporting using public records. Learn more: https://splc.org/awards
Educators, have you missed Influencer U so far? It's not too late! Join us this week to talk about the law of creator-style journalism. This free webinar series about teaching news content creation runs Tuesdays in June and July. View the speaker lineup and to register: https://loom.ly/M2YRv48
Nineteen years ago today, the Supreme Court ruled that, while students have a right to political speech at school, their right does not extend to views promoting illegal drug use. Learn more about the “BONG HiTS 4 JESUS” case: https://loom.ly/ojxXKNE
Congratulations to Andrew Hum and Kim Hong of Holmdel High School for winning the First Amendment Award from Youth Journalism International! Learn more about Hum and Hong’s experience advocating for student press rights in their 2025 editorial: https://loom.ly/qf5U4Rg
"We have power to organize, we have power to call out [and] keep institutions accountable.” Today, more than 150 Maryland high schoolers did just that — signing a cross-district open letter demanding the district follow the state's press freedom law. 🔗 Their story: https://loom.ly/c7SmtGY
When student journalists tackle a tough story, the instinct to suppress it is both a legal risk and a missed opportunity. SPLC spoke with K-12 Dive about what school leaders should do instead — and why 18 states have New Voices laws protecting student press rights. https://loom.ly/EZrKTJ4
🚨 Fourteen national journalism groups wrote to IU admins today, urging them to act on a student media task force’s recommendations — and warning that the press community is still watching after actions taken last fall undermined #studentpressfreedom at IU. Read the letter: https://loom.ly/-sc9RPE
It’s an urgent moment for student journalists, and they need support from individuals like you and organizations like SPLC. Please consider a gift today to ensure they get the legal help they need when it matters most. All donations will be matched dollar-for-dollar: https://loom.ly/S5dflTM
The Student Press Law Center condemns a federal court ruling upholding — for now, at least — the University of Alabama’s decision to shut down two student magazines, calling the decision a significant threat to student press freedom nationwide. Read our full statement: https://loom.ly/runpBFs
How can student journalists protect themselves from giving up their notes or being forced to testify? In the latest blog post from SPLC's Attorney Referral Network, media lawyer David M. Snyder writes about what students should know before they receive a subpoena. ➡️ https://loom.ly/UcAPvzI
When he was removed as adviser, Eric Gustafson was inspired by his students to keep fighting. That's why he reached out to SPLC and filed a lawsuit. Now, SPLC will use his victory as a warning to others. Ensure students & advisers have SPLC in their corner with a donation: https://loom.ly/S5dflTM
⌛ DEADLINE TOMORROW: High school students, join us this summer to learn leadership and advocacy skills as we advance #studentpressfreedom! ➡️ https://loom.ly/Hk44D8g
Julie K. Brown earned a Pulitzer Prize this month for her groundbreaking Jeffrey Epstein reporting. Brown told SPLC recently that said every student journalist should investigate Epstein's connections to their campuses. https://splc.org/2026/04/julie-k-brown-on-epstein-reporting-it-takes-a-village/
It's been a year of tumult and uncertainty for IU student media. Now, student editors say that, "for the first time in years, we’re at the precipice of a beneficial cycle." An IU-appointed task force released its recommendations for securing the future of student media. 🧵⤵️
Former Board Chair Roz Stark knows how important it is for student journalists to have legal support. That's why she has been donating to SPLC for 20+ years. With SPLC even more essential in today’s world, Roz has stepped forward with a $20K matching challenge. Donate now: https://loom.ly/S5dflTM
Maryland celebrates 10 years of its New Voices law this month! 🎉 To mark the occasion, we reviewed MD school districts' student media policies. Of 21 we've received, all comply with the law — a great first step to ensure students can enjoy its press freedom protections. https://loom.ly/7CiZrA8
Despite all the threats, student journalists persist. They are asking hard questions, telling essential stories, and seeking support. And we have their backs with free legal support. Your gift helps us meet a $20,000 matching challenge, doubling your impact! Give today: https://loom.ly/S5dflTM
As student journalists face major threats, SPLC welcomes new board members to help us meet the moment: ⭐ Christina Bellantoni, USC Annenberg ⭐ Rick Hirsch, Collier Prize for State Government Accountability ⭐ James Libresco, Brown University ⭐ Kate Ortega, Business Insider splc.org/2026/04/four...
We’re on our way to the National High School Journalism Convention this week! Join us for two days of timely sessions covering a range of topics, including censorship, libel and covering protests. Most sessions will be held in📍Media Law Central, but find all the details in the conference app!
We’ve been defending student journalists for 50+ years. Now, our strategic plan calls us to strengthen our leadership and voice in service of student journalism. We have a bold plan, and we need you to join us! https://splc.org/strategic-plan/
Today is #LocalNewsDay! Millions rely on student journalists for information about their communities. Student journalists are journalists. Today, we celebrate their essential contributions to local news. As they navigate an increasingly complex legal landscape, we're proud to have their backs.
⚠️ TODAY: The release of the Epstein files raised questions that reach across the country, including on college campuses. How can student journalists effectively and legally pursue those stories? Join SPLC for this event with @jkbjournalist.bsky.social. Register: us02web.zoom.us/webinar/regi...
The landscape for student journalists is shifting as the need for their work grows. SPLC's strategic plan commits to supporting the acceleration of newer student reporting programs while maintaining our support for traditional student media. Learn more: https://splc.org/strategic-plan/
The release of the Epstein files raised questions that reach across the country, including on college campuses. How can student journalists effectively and legally pursue those stories? Join SPLC for this event with Miami Herald reporter Julie K. Brown. Register: us02web.zoom.us/webinar/regi...