Student Journalists Still Fighting For Press Freedom In Hawaii

Hawaii has become the 16th state to pass legislation that ensures more First Amendment protections to high school and college journalists after Gov. David Ige on Monday signed the Hawaii Student Journalism Protection Act. The law allows students attending public schools and the University of Hawaii to exercise freedom of speech in school-sponsored newspapers. It also protects advisers from being dismissed, suspended, disciplined, or retaliated against for allowing students to practice their rights. “I do recognize that student journalists have an important role to play in the high school community but more importantly in the community at large,” Ige said at a news conference held at McKinley High. Ige and House Speaker Scott Saiki, who introduced the bill this year, commemorated the student journalists and adversior at McKinley High’s newspaper The Pinion for pushing for this legislation. Cynthia Reves and her students have been advocating for this measure since 2019. Hawaii is now a part of the “New Voices Movement,” a student-led grassroots effort that aims to shield student journalists from censorship and advisers from consequences.

More than a year and a half after then-Gov. David Ige signed a new law providing more First Amendment protections for student journalists, the Board of Education has yet to officially revise its policy regarding censorship in school-sponsored publications. The Hawaii Student Journalism Protection Act provides freedom of speech and press protections to school-sponsored student … Continue reading Student Journalists Still Fighting For Press Freedom In Hawaii