Schools can’t censor student journalists or punish their advisers under new Maryland law

The Free State is now free in practice for student journalists and their advisers.

Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan (R) signed a bill into law that provides broad speech protections for high school and college journalists even if their publications are funded by the school or part of a class, the Student Press Law Center reports.

The state is only the third to expressly protect students from prior restraint and their advisers from retaliation by the administration.

It was sponsored by state Sen. Jamie Raskin, a constitutional law professor at American University who topped a crowded Democratic primary this week in his run for a congressional seat.

Rebecca Snyder of the Maryland-Delaware-D.C. Press Association told the Student Press Law Center that censorship of “promising young journalists” can have a “ripple effect” into their professional careers:

“It is my hope that with New Voices now as law here in the state, more journalism programs will take risks and discuss substantive issues without the fear of retribution or censorship. This law will protect teachers from retaliation for teaching and playing out the tenets of journalism. It’s a good day!”

The law takes effect Oct. 1. So-called New Voices bills are still pending in Illinois, Missouri, Rhode Island, Minnesota, Michigan, Nebraska and Alabama, according to SPLC.

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