Bill would aid student journalists

OLYMPIA – Teenage journalists in the Everett School District got a boost Monday in their fight with administrators for control of student newspapers.

A Seattle-area lawmaker introduced a bill that aims to strengthen free speech protections for students and prohibit censorship of their publications.

“Just because someone is young doesn’t mean that they have to give up their freedom of speech,” said Rep. Dave Upthegrove, D-Des Moines.

The bill would shift editorial liability from schools to students, making student reporters and editors responsible for any resulting legal problems.

Six states have similar laws: Arkansas, California, Colorado, Iowa, Kansas and Massachusetts.

“It is a step in a wonderful direction,” said Claire Lueneburg, a former editor of the Everett High School student newspaper, The Kodak, who is suing the district over free speech rights.

“It will really accomplish what we were ultimately wanting to accomplish at Everett High School for all high schools in the state, which would be really amazing.”

Lueneburg and Sara Eccleston were co-editors of the student newspaper, The Kodak, in fall 2005 when their principal demanded prior review of each issue, citing a district policy.

The students refused, calling it a violation of their free speech rights and noting that there’d been no such review in more than 17 years.

A trial is scheduled for May in U.S. District Court in Seattle.

In the meantime, students at both Everett and Cascade high schools are creating newspapers on their own time, and with their own money, to avoid the district policy.

The Kodak also resumed as a school-sanctioned publication this year as part of a journalism class at Everett High.

Upthegrove said he wrote the bill after speaking with a former editor of the Green River Community College newspaper.

The lawmaker said he’s confident students would rise to the challenge of responsibility, citing the success of other states with similar laws.

“When students are empowered to make those decisions, they are more likely to feel a sense of leadership and take ownership of their work,” he said.

Attorney General Rob McKenna supports the legislation.

“If it is protected by the First Amendment, it is protected by this bill,” said Greg Overstreet, special assistant to McKenna.

Rep. Al O’Brien, D-Mountlake Terrace, also has signed on to the bill, which he said will help educate students on their constitutional protections.

“If students do not understand certain rights, they are not in a position to govern our country,” he said.

Lueneburg, now a college freshman, said she hopes the bill will draw enough support to pass.

“You grow up to be a more responsible citizen than you would have been if you were controlled your entire 12 years of schooling,” she said.

Reporter Whitney Cork: 360-352-8624 or wcork@heraldnet.com.