Student journalists in the U.S. are reporting on some of today’s most complex, sensitive issues. With news deserts on the rise, their coverage is more integral than ever, serving as a primary news source for many local communities.

In the past year, student reporters have been on the frontlines covering pro-Palestine protests on college campuses nationwide. In August at the University of Florida, The Alligator student paper revealed former University of Florida President Ben Sasse’s spending splurge. Rewind five years: students at The Harvard Crimson uncovered sexual harassment allegations against professors in the university’s anthropology department.

Covering these high-profile stories may heighten the risk of backlash for student reporters, including efforts to censor them, legal crackdowns, and harassment from peers.

In February, ICFJ partnered with Vanderbilt University and Freedom Forum, with support from the Lumina Foundation, to bring university faculty and students, international and U.S. journalists, and media leaders together for a discussion about the importance of press freedom in democratic societies. Participants stressed how U.S.-based journalists can learn from the experiences of their colleagues abroad, and they dived into the challenges campus reporters face, such as a lack of funding and harassment from fellow students, offered advice for engaging audiences, and more.

After the event, I asked some of the students who attended to provide insights into the impact of press freedom on their campuses, and what resources student journalists today need most to carry out their reporting. 

Here’s what they shared:

How does student press freedom impact the quality of journalism on your college campus?

Abigail Turner - American University

Student press freedom allows us to break important stories that the community would not find elsewhere. Oftentimes, student journalists are the only ones chasing stories about a university. Without student press freedom, important stories that hold our administrations accountable would not be reported. It also allows us a free space to train the next generation of journalists. 

[College newspapers are] one of the only spaces on a campus where students are trained by and overseen by other students. Such a unique ecosystem allows us to carry the legacy of our journalistic work year after year.
 

Nyla Cross - Hampton University

Student press freedom impacts the quality of journalism on my college campus by allowing us to effectively report crucial stories with the necessary information and outlets. If students aren't allowed to share stories and communicate with each other without censorship or mass approval from university administration, underreported and time-sensitive news can't be relayed. 

Ruth Cronin - Indiana University Bloomington

Student press freedom impacts the quality of journalism on my campus in many ways. We have the freedom to do important work and publish powerful stories, independent from the university which is extremely valuable. 

However, we also struggle to get information and interviews from higher ups. We struggle to be respected by faculty, administration, and our peers. 

Lisa Kopelnik - University of Virginia

Student press freedom is essential for student journalists to feel empowered to do the work that is foundational to our university. Our university was founded upon the principles of discovering and pursuing the truth, which is also the mission of student journalism here. 

When students know they can pursue different stories without having their freedom encroached upon, they are able to do the deep diving needed to tell the truth.

What resources do student journalists need most to do their jobs effectively and ethically today?

Turner

The most important resource for student journalists is education. While we may learn the fundamentals of journalism in classes, [we] may be faced with situations a classroom can’t prepare [us] for. Whether that be covering a protest on the ground or sifting through university budget data, support and education from working journalists who volunteer their time is vital to growing [our] skills. 

Legal support is also essential for student journalists to do their jobs. Unlike big news organizations, we don’t have in-house lawyers who can read stories before publication to ensure they are sound. Free and low-cost resources that not only teach about defamation and communication law but ensure stories are legally sound allow [us] to push for hard stories without fear of retribution. 

Cross

Student journalists need access to information, either via FOIAs, or simply by having access to interviewees and helpful resources. We also need funding for independent newsrooms, and for newsrooms and print papers that can effectively report important stories. We need university protection and support when we report stories that could be unsavory or expose a certain group, and we need opportunities, mentorship, respect and backing from universities and students. 

We cannot look down upon student journalism or consider it rudimentary, when it is so integral to multiple communities, even outside of college campuses.

Cronin

Student journalists today need support and respect from their universities. They need to be given access to information and funding. Universities should play an active role in protecting student reporters' first amendment rights, and they need to recognize the importance of student media in recruiting new students, and in serving the school as a whole. 

Kopelnik

Students need legal and monetary resources to do their jobs effectively and ethically. [They] may be at risk of legal challenges that could permanently damage the campus newspaper, and they may not have the skills to navigate those scenarios. Additionally, students need monetary resources to support their work.