The rights and responsibilities student journalists hold in today’s world
Across the country, student journalists remain at their desks for hours, chasing interviews and working tirelessly to print a better issue than the last. With every edit to each article, with each review of each page and with every early morning wake-up, we, as a staff, strive to fulfill our utmost duty to represent the student body, ensuring all voices in our community are heard.
As student journalists in 2025, the Panther Prowler upholds the journalistic laws and ethics that have been created thus far, allowing us to report accurately, without the fear of censorship.
The Panther Prowler is a California public high school publication, and therefore adheres to California Education Code [EC] 48907, which reverses the effect of the 1988 U.S. Supreme Court decision in Hazelwood School District v. Kuhlmeier. EC 48907 defines California as an anti-Hazelwood state, protecting students’ rights to free speech and press in public schools unless the content is obscene, libelous, slanderous, inciting students to break laws or school regulations or disrupting school proceedings. Hazelwood School District v. Kuhlmeier limited student press rights under the First Amendment. In this case, the principal removed two articles due to concerns over privacy and age-appropriateness. The court ruled 5-3 in favor of the school district, allowing school administration to exercise editorial control over the content of school newspapers given that their actions are “reasonably related to legitimate pedagogical concerns.”
Despite the Supreme Court decision, 18 states, including California, have enacted individual anti-Hazelwood laws. The Panther Prowler is further protected under prior review. Administrators have the right to review all aspects of an issue before it is published, including articles, photos and graphics. While our adviser, Michelle Saremi, may offer feedback and suggestions, the Panther Prowler staff members are entirely and solely responsible for the final product of the publication.
The Supreme Court case Tinker v. Des Moines Independent Community School District in 1969 was a landmark decision for student journalists, establishing the First Amendment rights of public school students. The school district prohibited a student-led protest against the Vietnam War and suspended the students who participated. The students’ parents filed a lawsuit claiming that the students’ rights to freedom of speech were violated.
In a 7-2 decision, the Supreme Court ruled in favor of the students, leading to the implementation of the Tinker Test, a legal standard used to determine whether a school can limit student expression. As students, we believe that we should have the ability to cover topics important to our student body without questioning our freedom of expression.
The First Amendment of the Constitution laid the foundation for the modern world of journalism by solidifying the freedom of the press. As stated in the First Amendment, freedom of the press allows the media to publish information, ideas and opinions without government interference or censorship. While the Panther Prowler is protected under the freedom of the press, the United States Supreme Court has allowed public schools some authority to restrict student activities.
As student journalists for the Newbury Park High School student publication, we work to provide accurate coverage of the events and activities we report, both within and outside of our school community. Controversial topics will be written with sensitivity to our audience, with factual and accurate reporting. Because the Panther Prowler is under prior review, rather than prior restraint, the editorial articles printed within are a reflection of the beliefs of the student staff, not the school officials or the school itself.
Within the classroom and outside, each article goes through a line of student editors, ensuring that any article deemed unprotected will not be published. Any significant errors printed in the publication will be corrected in the next issue and corrections can be found on the editorial page. The Panther Prowler editorials will remain unsigned, as they reflect the beliefs of the entire staff. If the entire staff does not agree on the written editorial, their opinions will also be provided in a counterargument. If this is the case, there will be a pie chart provided indicating those who are in agreement or opposed. All articles that are signed are the opinion of the writer only, and not a reflection of the entire staff. This applies to articles that are opinions and columns.
This year, the Panther Prowler plans to publish a total of eight issues, as well as a senior issue magazine at the end of the school year. We strive to report accurately and effectively, ensuring that the entirety of the student body is represented during their time at Newbury Park High School.
