Student press lacks freedom

Wanted: Responsible high school student who possesses strong leadership qualities. Willing to work with school administration to present a completely positive reflection of the school community. An interest in covering local or global affairs is not necessary. Prefer candidates with little hard news desire and an interest toward annually repeating similar articles. Critical that the candidate does not attempt to question "why" something is happening.
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Though this classified ad has not been published, the words reflect a growing crisis in high schools. Across America, high school journalists face an uphill battle as they attempt to appeal to their readers with relevant stories.
The challenge, however, does not simply involve uncovering story ideas. Rather, high school newspaper editors face more difficulty after the story has been written.
As the United States military continues its global offensive against terrorist cells, students need to step back and ask themselves, "Are America's freedoms being extended to all American citizens?"
A battle continues today, but not on the front of foreign countries or domestic terrorist attacks, but in the freedoms of high school students, particularly those in private or parochial schools.
The student press should be treated as an instrument of education. The responsibilities of an editor should not be construed into public relations.
My example
If schools are more interested in presenting strictly positive coverage of academic events, they should consider searching for a marketing firm instead of aspiring journalists.
As the former editor of a newspaper in a parochial school, I was faced with more red tape than had I attempted to unseal court documents.
It is depressing to know that a newspaper is expected to ignore the news.
Poorly written prior review policies allow administrative decisions to leak through without any recourse.
To ironically find a liberty bell sticker placed on top of a portion of an editorial regarding censorship.
To be forced to completely refocus an article about the YSU English Festival's book selection because Bishop Tobin of the Catholic Diocese of Youngstown made a decision.
To have a hailstorm of criticism over the observation that a habitual climate control problem in the school was solved for a single day as Tobin visited.
These events have a chilling affect on the gusto of a newspaper staff. While these issues reflect the events of a single high school, they paint a mural of contemporary issues, which address the conflict between journalism and public relations.
Schools shouldn't expect students to cover strictly positive news beats, but extend the ability to report a 360-degree panorama of teen life. Otherwise, student journalists who once looked at reporting what's happening as a never-ending passion will lose their desire.
Is that what schools with censorship or prior review policies want? I don't know for certain, but I hope that the answer is never "yes."
XJason graduated June 1 from Cardinal Mooney High School, where he was editor of the student newspaper, The Beakon. He plans to study journalism at Youngstown State University.