by John Bowen, MJE
While JEA condemns attack on the Capitol Jan. 6, it also urged journalism teachers and advisers to continue facilitating fact-based journalism, especially of locally-related issues.
To help students and advisers with that coverage, The SPRC highlights information and ideas that can assist in exploring current events or national issues.
JEA commended journalism educators, president Sarah Nichols, MJE, said, for finding ways to engage students in class and through coverage.
“Courageous journalism informs us all and serves as a historical record. The reporting during and after such events underscores the importance of the work journalists do based on shared values of truth and justice,” Nichols said …”Knowing these actions were largely related to deep-rooted beliefs of hate and intolerance makes the attack all the more critical for us to address.”
Students, Nichols said, students have the right to cover the news; doing so is also their responsibility.
“JEA stands behind journalists exercising their First Amendment right to report and inform the public,” Nichols said. “Journalists must be able to do their jobs without fear of retribution or harm.”
Activities | lessons | and more
• Legal issues covering protests
• If covering protests, note these points
• Riding out the storm should entail future planning
• Protest and the First Amendment
• Tools of truth/Sloppy reporting lessons
• Stories students can best tell: Reporting protests, walkouts and marches
• Covering insurrection: Covering Insurrection: News Frames, Word Choice, & Whose Story to Tell. (online, free workshop)
• State capitols brace for right-wing violence; D.C. locks down ahead of inauguration
• Pushed to the edge by the Capitol riot, people are reporting their family and friends to the FBI
• Texas insurrectionist asks Trump for pardon
One last point. Student media prevented from covering, or prior reviewed by anyone outside the student media staff, on Jan. 6 related issues, please let the Student Press Law Center and us (the SPRC) know. Use the SPLC link and the Panic Button.
