The HS Beat: Student press freedom isn't universal
Student journalists outside US navigate restrictions without First Amendment protections
Student Press Freedom Day is Feb. 27 in the United States. But here in Korea — and in much of the world — it is just another Thursday.
In Korea, awareness of student press freedom remains minimal, even nationally.
In the professional sphere, while the Korean Constitution guarantees freedom of speech, press organizations often face defamation lawsuits or other repercussions.
For example, news outlets that reported on former President Yoon Suk Yeol’s defamatory language were later banned from accompanying him on business trips. In the first year and a half of his administration, Yoon’s government filed 11 defamation cases.
From 2022 to 2024, South Korea’s press freedom ranking dropped from No. 43 to No. 62.
For student journalists, the clampdown on press freedom is harsher.
Unlike in the U.S., where the New Voices movement and organizations like the Student Press Law Center advocate for student press rights, Korea’s student journalism, especially in middle and high schools, remains largely confined to print publications within individual schools.
As a result, Korean student journalists must take extra precautions. This often means self-censoring topics that might not sit well with the administration and consulting advisers on what is safe to publish.
International school journalists have it harder, especially for our non-Korean staff. South Korean immigration law prohibits foreigners from engaging in political activities, limiting coverage opportunities such as protests.
At my school, the administration previously turned down sensitive Jets Flyover article topics and reviewed articles before publication to protect us from lawsuits.
For instance, they turned down an article on teachers’ rights in the public school system, as it was pitched shortly after an elementary school teacher died by suicide due to harassment from parents.
However, in the past few months, we’ve moved away from prior reviews.
As we’ve gained more experience, we’ve learned to navigate the fine line between slander and responsible journalism, ensuring we cover important topics in a timely yet respectful manner.
For example, we’ve been able to tackle sensitive local news stories, such as deepfake sex crimes in South Korea.
We also make a point to triple-check our work for bias.
For opinion pieces, we use the Concession-Refutation model, acknowledging opposing viewpoints before making our case.
In an article critiquing the prevalence of electric vehicles in South Korea, the writer first addressed the environmental benefits of EVs before presenting a well-supported counterargument.
At other international schools, students have found ways to navigate press freedom without First Amendment protections.
At the American School in London, for example, student journalists adapted resources from the Student Press Law Center and local laws to create a press freedom contract, which their high school principal signed.
Here in Korea, student press freedom is what we strive toward as a publication. But it is also a fine line we must not cross for our own safety.
As a high school student journalist, you can — and should — advocate for student press freedom, too.
Spread the word that student journalism fills gaps in local media coverage. And remember: Student voices have the power to create real change in their communities.
📧 Contact Leanne Yoon at hspresscentral@gmail.com.
📰 Headlines Worth Reading
How student journalists without New Voices law navigate student censorship (Wayland Student Press Network)
Silenced: Student media censorship continues to plague schools (The VNHS Mirror)
‘Unapologetically loud’: How student journalists fought a Kansas district over spyware and won (Kansas Reflector)
Virginia school district created new student publication guidelines, renewing censorship fears (The Highlander)
Another Virginia school board voted against a motion to review the rights of student journalists (The Purple Tide)
Scholastic journalists deserve consideration equal to professionals (The Heights Herald)
The case for high school student journalism (Manual RedEye)
📅 Student Press Freedom Day
The eighth annual Student Press Freedom Day is Thursday, Feb. 27. Join the Student Press Law Center in standing up for student journalists’ First Amendment rights. Here are the events and ways you can be involved.
📢 D.C. Summer Conference
High school student journalist: Do you want to benefit from a skill-building, network-growing experience that will give you a head start on your future?
If yes, then apply for Freedom Forum’s Al Neuharth Free Spirit and Journalism Conference! Benefits for the 51 selected students include a free five-day trip to Washington, D.C., a $1,000 college scholarship and more.
The deadline is March 23.
📢 New England Students:
The New England High School Journalism Collaborative is accepting applications from high school student journalists for its all-expense-paid summer workshop June 21-28.
The program is intended for students who are from traditionally underserved populations. Students will work out of a newsroom at Simmons University and learn to report, write, edit for a newspaper, and produce multimedia projects for a website.
Only high school students in Connecticut, Massachusetts, Maine, New Hampshire, Rhode Island and Vermont are eligible. The deadline to apply is April 4.
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