COPYRIGHT 2010. THIS SITE IS INDEPENDENT OF THE SPOKE, STOGANEWS.COM AND CONESTOGA HIGH SCHOOL.
"The Government's power to censor the press was abolished so that the press would remain forever free to censure the Government." -Supreme Court Justice Hugo Black
We were in your position in 2009, and this page is designed to provide you with various resources as you defend your publication’s right to free speech. Student journalists recognize the important responsibilities they have to serve their communities, to tell their readership not only what it wants to hear, but what it needs to hear. They recognize the critical importance their publications have in addressing controversial issues in a professional way. This determination to find the truth means that student journalists will stand up for their rights to publish controversial stories. Click here to read the rest of the letter.
Resources
for publications facing censorship
FIGHTING BACK: TAKING ON CENSORSHIP
Friends of The Spoke and the Student Press Law Center presented "Fighting Back: Taking on Censorship" at the 2010 Journalism Education Association/National Scholastic Press Association Spring convention in Portland, Oregon.
> Download PDF of presentation (9.7 MB)
OUR PAPER
In April 2009, before the district even proposed their changes, we compiled an internal report detailing what The Spoke’s editorial independence means for the paper and its quality of reporting.
OUR CAMPAIGN: LETTER WRITING
To spread initial word about our situation, and to direct people to our Web site, we sent out hundreds of letters to supportive community members notifying them of the proposed changes, and how they could help.
OUR CAMPAIGN: THE WEB
A central tool in spreading the word, and the facts, about our situation was via the Web. We set up this website to inform, as well as to provide a way that interested people can sign up to help. People who agreed to help filled out an online form and selected how they wished to help.
We re-designed our website recently, but here was what the site looked like during the discussions with the school district and school board. Be sure to check out the links and different pages; we uploaded versions every time the policy was revised and released statements periodically so the community knew what was going on.
The sign up form was created using Google Documents. Every time someone signed up, their information was added to a spreadsheet, and we followed up with them.
OUR CAMPAIGN: MEDIA COVERAGE
The Spoke’s campaign was covered in the local and national press. Go to the History page for the details.
OUR CAMPAIGN: HELPFUL LINKS
Be sure to keep posted on the latest student press headlines with the Student Press Law Center.
The Mythbusting Fact Sheet is a very useful tool for informing both districts and the community on the common myths — and the facts — about high school journalism.
CENSORSHIP “A CHALLENGE TO DEMOCRACY”
Henry Rome, the National Student Journalist of the Year for 2009, addressed thousands of student journalists in Portland, Oregon at the Journalism Education Association/National Scholastic Press Association Spring convention.
Read the background check investigation at friendsofthespoke.org/obligationtoreport
OUR CAMPAIGN: EVOLUTION OF THE POLICY/REGULATION
During the five-month fight, the student publications policy went through many phases. Here’s the evolution.
