Highschool Newspaper Tells Censorship to SuckIt
January 12, 2009 by Colleen Coplick
Filed under Social Media
Online and citizen journalism have been around for ages – you know, at least four years, which is at least a century in internet years, but it appears that a school superintendent in Minneapolis didn’t get that memo.
Students from the Fairbault, Minnesota High have taken their newspaper online in response to the demand they shut their paper down from the superindetendent when he wanted to review an article about a teacher in advance.
While there are many touting the fact that this is a win for citizen journalists and lamenting the fact that there are still need for online journalists to prove themselves, the truth is, just because the school went and did something that the rest of us have been doing for ages – going online to reach audiences we wouldn’t have otherwise – isn’t particularly earth shattering news.
Yes, I know that I’m perpetuating this "news" by writing about it, but this is kind of a thorn in my side. There are only so many qualities that make something newsworthy. Yes, it’s news in Minnesota. That’s a localization thing – it’s more important to the people in Fairbault than it is to, clearly, me in Vancouver.
When I first started reading the article on MediaPost, I was intrigued enough to try and find the story, but then when I realized that the extent of the story was the newspaper went online because of possible censorship, well…. I just got annoyed. And then I gave it more webspace. (sigh)
So, what do you think – is it news that students are embracing citizen journalism and moving online, or should they – the so called Net Natives – already be there?
Tags: net natives, cicitzen journalism, newsworthy, censorship
I think the angle to the story isn’t that the school took the newspaper online – it’s that the STUDENTS did. Much like those of us from a different generation took things underground.
While the method of delivery may be different, to me the significance is that the students have options to deliver the message to their constituency rather than be shut down for not complying with censorship.
Freedom of the press is alive and well in Minneapolis – although perhaps the superintendent wishes it were otherwise.
Clearly, I’m biased. I’m the co-founder and owner of School Newspapers Online. Mary Jo has it exactly right. The story here isn’t that the school moved the news reporting online but that the students – independent of the school – are practicing the craft of journalism online.
Most of our clients are schools rather than an independent group of students. For schools, online publishing is cost effective, and it prepares students for the future of news reporting, which is clearly online.
@Tom, i definitely agree.. I am just surprised that the students weren’t going to the web already.
I taught a Mass Media course for a while and it’s my understanding that “free press” rights don’t necessarily apply to student newspapers. Isn’t it the right of the school superintendent to not publish something? What am I missing here?