Missouri Press Association
Serving Missouri Newspapers Since 1867
Once again, MPA is working toward passage of the Cronkite New Voices Act, which would protect student press freedom throughout the state. Currently, 18 other states (including Kansas, Iowa, Arkansas, and Illinois) have enacted similar laws protecting the First Amendment rights of student journalists.
Originating in Missouri, the landmark 1988 Supreme Court case Hazelwood School District v. Kuhlmeier established that school officials may lawfully prevent the publication of certain articles in school-sponsored newspapers without violating students’ First Amendment rights.
The case stemmed from the principal at Hazelwood East High School in St. Louis deleting pages from The Spectrum newspaper containing stories on teen pregnancy and the impact of divorce. Claiming that the school had violated their First Amendment rights, Cathy Kuhlmeier and two other former Hazelwood East students brought the case to court.
The Washington, D.C.-based Student Press Law Center and other supporters of the Cronkite New Voices Act held a Zoom meeting on Jan. 13 to advocate for the two bills that have been introduced in the Missouri General Assembly. Senate Bill 1172, again sponsored by Sen. Barbara Washington (D-Kansas City), and House Bill 2918, sponsored by Rep. Scott Miller (R-St. Charles), would protect freedom of press in school-sponsored media. The bills also protect student journalism advisers from punishment for related issues.
Interestingly, one of the members of our Missouri advocacy group is Cathy Kuhlmeier herself. Now 60 years old, she lives with her three dogs in Warrenton, where she works as a claims adjuster.
Her Cathy Kuhlmeier Foundation is a 501(c)(3) public charity founded to support a free student press by educating communities about the impact of Hazelwood v. Kuhlmeier. It was a thrill to see her on our recent Zoom meeting.
Other members of our advocacy group include Jared Schroder, an associate professor at the Missouri School of Journalism who specializes in First Amendment theory and law; Dan Kozlowski, an associate professor of communication at Saint Louis University who studies free expression issues; Ben Wilson, an attorney and legal fellow in the First Amendment Clinic at Washington University in St. Louis; Michael Hurley, government affairs counsel for the Foundation for Individual Rights in Education (FIRE); and Doug Crews, MPA legislative director.
The proposed Missouri legislation carries the name Cronkite New Voices Act as an homage to Walter Cronkite, the longtime anchor of the CBS Evening News who was born in St. Joseph and lived in Kansas City.
We are on the lookout for advocates who would be willing to write emails, make phone calls, and/or testify in committee hearings in Jefferson City.
If you’re willing to help, please email me at cstebbins@mopress.com.
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I was pleased to see that Carthage High School has revived its journalism program after more than a decade without one. Journalism teacher Maquelle Huntley and her staff of 15 students published an eight-page issue of the Tiger Tales on Jan. 14.
MPA and the Missouri Press Foundation are committed to helping resurrect middle school and high school journalism programs across Missouri. Two MPA members, Hannah Spaar and Roxie Murphy, have even proposed that a Center for High School Journalism be housed within the MPF.
I love how the Gasconade County Republican partners with Owensville High School to produce a monthly student paper, The Dutch Mill, inside the pages of the Republican. It increases both student and adult readership of the Republican while engaging the young journalists in a way that can’t be matched. If you’re interested in replicating this experience in your community, I know that Hannah and Roxie would be glad to help. They can be contacted at hannahspaar@gmail.com and rmurphy@wardpub.com.
While you’re at it, check out their Substack, “Emerging Student Newspapers,” at https://emergingstudentnewspapers.substack.com/, for additional information.
