Based on the Standards for Journalism Educators from the Journalism Education Association, this slide show addresses key concepts, court cases and issues related to Standard 1A.4: A solid foundation in law and ethics as it applies to scholastic media, including First Amendment-related rights and responsibilities; and 1B.5: Law and ethics as it relates to scholastic media and its importance in practice. The information here is designed to serve as a study list for those preparing to take the CJE exam or as a possible outline for teachers planning a basic law and ethics unit for a high school journalism classroom.

1. Thursday, February 24, 2011

2. JEA standards
• 1A.4. A solid foundation in law and ethics as it
applies to scholastic media, including First
Amendment-related rights and responsibilities
• 1A.5. Law and ethics as it relates to scholastic
media and its importance in practice
• court cases
• legal definitions
• ethical frameworks
Thursday, February 24, 2011

3. the basics
• court cases that relate to student media:
– Tinker v. Des Moines Independent Community School
District
– Bethel School District v. Fraser
– Hazelwood School District v. Kuhlmeier
– Morse v. Frederick (Bong Hits)
– Yeo v. Town of Lexington (ads)
– Dean v. Utica Community Schools
Thursday, February 24, 2011

4. the basics
• definitions of unprotected speech
– libel
– copyright
– obscenity
– disruption
– invasion of privacy
Thursday, February 24, 2011

5. the basics
• other important definitions and concepts
– censorship
– prior review
– First Amendment
– cybermedia legal issues
– protecting sources
– access
• Sunshine and open meeting laws
• FOIA
Thursday, February 24, 2011

6. the basics
• ethical issues
Law asks, “Could we do it?”
Ethics asks, “Should we do it?”
• balanced coverage
• what’s necessary to cover the topic?
• biases and slants
• the need for transparency
• anonymous sources
Thursday, February 24, 2011

7. where to look
• Student Press Law Center <www.splc.org>
• Law of the Student Press (3rd edition)
• JEA’s Scholastic Press Rights Commission
<jeapressrights.org>
• JEA’s Scholastic Press Rights Commission
blog <jeasprc.org>
Thursday, February 24, 2011

8. getting answers
• contact me: cbowen@kent.edu
• commission chair Mark Newton:
marknewt@comcast.net
• Press Rights commission chair John Bowen
jbowen1007@aol.com
• JEA web site > Press Rights Commission
• study guide online at www.jea.org/certification
• follow us on Twitter @jeaCertified or
@jeapressrights
Thursday, February 24, 2011