J-Ideas announces fund-raising campaign

Warren Watson, director, announced today the creation of an annual fund-raising campaign to support J-Ideas, Ball State’s scholastic journalism and First Amendment institute.

Parties are invited to give $25 or more to the J-Ideas Foundation to support future activities of the program. Donations are tax deductible. <more>

FIRST VOICES

watson

Little things mean a lot at the Newseum
Indianapolis Star column
by Warren Watson



J-Ideas Director Warren Watson blogs regularly for the Indianapolis Star. Here are his latest offerings:

Traditional news misses the Edwards escapade

Since everyone in the Western Hemisphere seems to have checked in on the journalism ramifications of the John Edwards affair, I thought I would join in the fun.

Actually, it isn't fun to bash traditional news organizations -- online, in print and on television -- for their slow-to-the-draw effort in revealing the former Democratic presidential candidate's shameful antics in his brazen affair with Rielle Hunter, the erstwhile filmmaker. <more>

-Protesters' rights fenced off

-Social networking pitfalls

-Bad year for traditional news gatherers

-Baseball and the First Amendment

-Principals and the First Amendment

-Remembering a crusader
-Photo ID law bad for voters
-Thoughts from the annual U.S. editors convention
-Need for print journalism remains
-Sunshine:now more than ever
-Mean-spirited fans
-Peter Jennings' legacy
-The First Amendment at the Alamo
-A New museum for news
-Author creates First Amendment 'primer'
-Unlikely First Amendment hero
-Harrison represented Hoosiers proudly
-Online course wraps for the fall
-Religious freedom for all
-Reading is FUN-damental
-Nothing negative
-Blogs grow in influence, but beware of anonymity
-Parent rides the bench after blog posting
-Student journalist's actions serves profession poorly
-Examining free speech online
-Remembering the courageous Elijah Parish Lovejoy

Archive

More First Thoughts: journalism teacher Tom Gayda speaks out

Student journalists scoop professional press
Gerry
By Gerry Appel

In an era where student journalists are often criticized for poor decision-making, one student newspaper should receive praise after scooping its professional counterparts. <more>

-Principal wrong in pulling paper

Mile high with the First Amendment...
swikle
By Randy Swikle

We were north of the Mile High City near the Rocky Mountains. The principals were voluntarily descending—not from the tall peaks but from their position abutting the summit of school hierarchy. When they reached level ground, we could see each other more clearly. And clear sight leads to insight. <more > 

 		  
   
     
     
     
 
 
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
 
  Home > News > Principals and the First Amendment Send this article to a friend
     
 

Warren Watson
First Thoughts
May 29, 2008

Principals and the First Amendment

High school principals appear to have become more rigid in their attitudes about the First Amendment and other student expression issues, according to a new study that we are completing at the J-Ideas project at Ball State University.

In the last months, we have surveyed 125 high school principals nationwide to gauge their attitudes about the First Amendment. The study is a replication of similar work done in 2004 by University of Connecticut researchers Ken Dautrich and David Yalof. We’ll be publishing our results soon.

A preview:

· 77 percent of high school principals believe that students should not be allowed to publish controversial stories in their student newspapers without the approval of school officials. That’s up from 75 percent in 2004.

· 29 percent of those surveyed strongly disagreed that the First Amendment goes too far in the rights it guarantees. In 2004, 52 percent strongly disagreed.

· 47 percent said schools were doing a good or excellent job in teaching the First Amendment. That number slipped from 62 percent in 2004.

“Not much has changed,” said Steve Hirt, principal at North Monterey High School in California. “It’s not as much of a priority when it compares to school test scores, safety and security.”

Principals interviewed also said they understood why some attitudes seemed to have slipped. Fear of litigation and a concern that students have lost a sense of civility were cited as two of the reasons.

Stay tuned for more on the study.
     
     

 

 

 
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Bloggers and Online News Users are Better Informed on First Amendment

Chicago, Ill. - High school students who blog, who read online news sources and who chat online regularly are more likely to understand and support their First Amendment rights, according to a new book based on the largest survey conducted on the subject. <more>

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Dautrich and Yalof Publish book on First Amendment

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  J-IDEAS is funded in part by the 
John S. and James L. Knight Foundation's
High School Initiative and Ball State University.		  
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