State Legislation Protecting Student Press Freedom: New Voices on the Move Part 4
Channel: Center for Scholastic Journalism
Date: 07/03/2017

Title: After the Law Passes
Speakers: Adam Dawkins & Eric Thomas

The Center for Scholastic Journalism at Kent State University hosted the first national symposium to explore the movement for Student Free Press legislation in November 2008.  The assembled group of lawyers, journalists, educators and students had high hopes for a reinvigorated movement supporting student freedom bills in states around the country. But change was slow in coming. It wasn't until 2015 when  North Dakota student free expression law that the momentum began. In 2016, eight years after CSJ held its first legislation symposium, the Center once again brought together a group of national experts to look toward the future of student press freedom laws around the country. This video captures that event. 

Adam holds an MA in Journalism Education from Kent State University, and is a JEA Certified Journalism Educator. He is the president of the Colorado Student Media Association. Adam created and developed the state CSMA Press Law and Ethics course for advisers and also teaches press law and ethics at the Summer Adviser Workshop. He advises RJ Media at Regis Jesuit High School, which includes a website, RJTV Sports Broadcasting, Elevate newsmagazine, RJ Radio, and RJTV.

Eric Thomas is executive director of the Kansas Scholastic Press Association and an instructor at the University of Kansas. Next year KSPA will celebrate the 25th anniversary of the state law protecting student expression in Kansas public school publications. The organization will mark the anniversary with a conference in Topeka, Kansas, Sept. 25 and 26, 2017. Thomas previously taught high school journalism at St. Teresa's Academy in Kansas City, Missouri.