Baby Jay visits KJI

June 22, 2011

Create your own video slideshow at animoto.com.     University of Kansas mascot Baby Jay stopped by the Kansas Journalism Institute on Wednesday to say . . . well, Baby Jay didn’t say much, but the bird brightened the day for the 120 high school campers studying journalism at the William... Read more »

Newspaper staffers in Illinois quit after repression of speech

Sarah Darby, Mill Valley High School
June 15, 2010

According to the Chicago Tribune, Stevenson High School adviser Barb Thill has resigned and 11 out of 14 staff members have quit the award-winning paper, the Statesman, after a new censorship, policy adopted last January by administrators, made prior review common place. The policy was created after... Read more »

Georgia crime-themed yearbook causes problems

Christine Labrador, Highland Park High School
June 14, 2010

Yearbook students at Glenn Hills High School in Augusta, Ga., stirred a controversy by having a crime-themed yearbook. The book contained mug shots of students with briefs about false crimes the students committed.  In addition, the class bests were completely inappropriate, according to parents and... Read more »

Texas high school principal censors marijuana newspaper editorial

Cara McClain, St. Teresa's Academy
June 14, 2010

Principal Mike Ritchey pulled the last issue of Big Spring High School’s student newspaper, The Corral. He censored it because it contrasted to the district’s views. The district discourages the use of drugs, but the editorial urged for the legalization of marijuana. Ritchey told the Student... Read more »

Pflugerville yearbook includes stories of teen pregnancy, drug use and alcohol abuse and outrages parents

Kaitlyn Butko, Mill Valley High School
June 14, 2010

After the Pflugerville High School handed out yearbooks, the district received multiple calls and  emails complaining about the content. A full page was devoted to teenage pregnancy, featuring letters from teenage parents with an ultrasound picture of their unborn child. Another page covered street... Read more »

Virginia yearbook reprinted after brouhaha

Jonathan James, Blue Valley Northwest High School
June 14, 2010

The principal at Massaponax High School in Fredricksburg, Va. recently called for the reprinting of the 2009-2010 yearbook after reading controversial content. According to an article by the Student Press Law Center, the yearbook staff solicited secrets from the student body in order to reflect the reality... Read more »

Plainview High School is embarrassed by yearbook cover

Kira Southall, Highland Park High School
June 14, 2010

Plainview High School in Plainview, Texas, made headlines on their local news Sunday, May 9.  Their cover for the 2010 yearbook quoted “Time Well Wasted” from the popular Brad Paisley song. The incident has started a traveling controversy, leaving the school’s principal embarrassed and teachers... Read more »

Oregon teacher fired after controversial newspaper editorial

Katie Healy, Notre Dame de Sion
June 14, 2010

The advisor of the North Douglas High School newspaper, Loradona May, was dismissed in February for failing to censor inappropriate language in a student’s editorial on the enforcement of a new dress code. Oregon law states that, “Student journalists are responsible for determining the news,... Read more »

Students rally around Missouri staff on censorship issues

Nikki Koppers, Notre Dame de Sion
June 14, 2010

In April 2010 the National High School Journalism Convention rallied around Timberland High School’s journalism staff after the administration took away their long standing editorial freedom over an image of a tattoo. The Missouri high school was the focus of “Timberland Tattoo Solidarity... Read more »