Why We Need The Student Press Freedom Act

In 2006, BC proclaimed the last week of January, Sunday to Saturday, to be National Student Press Week, conceived by the Canadian University Press to celebrate post-secondary student journalism.

The proclamation read that student journalists “play a critical role in covering their communities and training future generations of journalists,” highlighting their necessity.

The industry agrees too. It is widely acknowledged by professional journalists that the work of their student counterparts is indeed real, powerful journalism. 

16 years later, National Student Press Week is an opportunity to reflect and celebrate the importance of student media, including the student media of secondary schools.

Student journalism, like all journalism, is essential, and deserves nothing less than the full protection of the law.

Unjustifiable censorship, particularly of public interest student journalism, is profoundly antithetical to a free and democratic society and should not be tolerated. The SPFA will prevent it from occurring in BC’s public schools.

The SPFA Campaign has compiled a list of reasons why we need the Student Press Freedom Act, all of which can be viewed in detail HERE.