Study: College Media Independence Threatened Without Statutory Help

A study conducted through the Joseph L. Brechner Freedom of Information Project at the University of Florida College of Journalism and Communications sounds the alarm on factors coalescing to restrict student journalist independence on college campuses.

The findings by Jessica Sparks, Ph.D. 2024, University of Minnesota doctoral student Jonathan Anderson, and UF Law student Ashley Alarcon are featured in “Sounding the Alarm: Legal Implications of Evolving College Media Independence” published in Communication Law & Policy on Oct. 16.

The article outlines the vulnerability of student newspapers to censorship and control. The study points out that the declining media economic model also has affected university media, making them more reliant on university funding for survival. That makes student media less independent in the eyes of the courts, according to the article’s analysis of case law.

“Our hope is that this legal analysis, in conjunction with the previous tools we created with the Student Press Law Center, will help student media outlets better understand how they are vulnerable to challenges to their independence,” Sparks said. “The findings really place context around issues facing college media at the moment. These outlets play a more and more important role in our news landscape, and their sustainability is integral for the future of journalism in the United States.”

Ultimately, the article argues, strong statutes need to be enacted in all states to protect student journalists from censorship, such as the “New Voices” legislation now in place in 18 states. The laws, promoted by the Student Press Law Center, establish protections against university censorship.

The study was funded by a Lumina Foundation grant, which culminated in a February 2024 report about campus media independence.

Posted: November 7, 2024
Category: Alumni News, Brechner Center, College News
Tagged as: Brechner Freedom of Information Project, College Media, Jessica Sparks, Student Press Law Center