Ask the Experts
Student Press Freedom
PUBLISHED FEBRUARY 27, 2025
On Student Press Freedom Day student journalists and their supporters across the country celebrate the contributions of student journalists and raise awareness of the need to support their independence without censorship. To mark the occasion we asked four UC student newspaper Editors-in-Chief the following question:
Through your position, what have you learned about the value of free expression, and how do you advocate for your right to report?
Adalia Luo, The UCSD Guardian, UC San Diego
During my time as Editor-in-Chief of The Guardian, it has become clearer than ever how student journalism informs, mobilizes, unites and engages a community in discourse and discussion. Our paper’s history is enshrined in and intertwined with the giving of voice to students. Amateur as they were, our first reporters were called to their position after realizing the lack of mainstream media coverage on student movements and issues. They were, like we are, driven by their pursuit of truth. As UCSD students protested to end the Vietnam War in the 70s, called on the UC system to divest from South African apartheid in the 80s, and most recently, enacted the Gaza Solidarity Encampment of 2024, our journalists have been there documenting each of these historic movements. No news source platforms the student perspective with as much diligence, transparency and accountability as the student press.
Free press everywhere is under threat, leaving the information economy oversaturated with the opinions of the mainstream, the hegemony, the corporate-wealth-voice and more. The right to report locally is vital to ensure our voices are heard in the face of the degradation of print news. Student press gives voice to the interests and perspectives of our local communities and to our future leaders.
The right to free expression hinges upon the protection of the press in its truest, most independent form, by and from its communities. Without the foundation of knowledge and truth that journalism offers, there is no place for discourse, and no possibility for community growth. Student journalists are the first and last line of defense in higher education, where the value of knowledge and accessible information could not be more necessary.
Senna Omar, The Highlander, UC Riverside
Free expression is essential to journalism. It is the responsibility of the media to keep the rich and powerful in check. Without free expression, democracy is no longer functional, which is why it is one of the most fundamental principles of journalism. Media profoundly shapes people’s perceptions, and many mainstream media sources have abandoned journalistic ethics and free expression to push governmental agendas. We saw this with coverage of Palestine, where the media painted this oppressed group of people as villains. Well-respected organizations, like the New York Times, were blatantly publishing misinformation about Palestinians. Even the UC was attacking students who had the gall to express themselves on university campuses.
Journalists, especially student media, must critique the powerful because without these critiques, we have a population of ill-informed cogs. Free expression is a tool for gaining information, for keeping the powerful accountable and for creating major change. Without free expression, we are no longer a democracy.
As journalists, we are responsible for telling the truth without censorship or influence from those in power. I always tell my reporters and editors that our responsibility is to our readers. It is not our job to keep those in power happy, but instead, we must ensure that our readers receive trustworthy information from our newspaper, free of outside influence. As Editor-in-Chief, to advocate for our rights as reporters, The Highlander upholds stringent standards of journalistic integrity and ethics. We ensure that all our articles are free of external pressure and tell the whole story — not just the one supporting the status quo. As a result, we have built trust with our campus community, which is essential to any news organization.
Skylar Paxton, The New University, UC Irvine
One of the main reasons I became a journalist and the Editor-in-Chief of New University, UCI’s official campus newspaper, was because freedom of expression is so important to me. This unique form of storytelling not only allows me, but anybody in the world, to make their voices known, and that’s why student journalists are so important in our communities. At New University, we strive to not only provide ethical, honest and empathetic journalism, but also to ensure that all voices are expressed equally and fairly. We have a unique position where we are able to intimately reach out to our communities and solely do it for the sake of journalism. In our organization, and many other student newspapers, none of us write for profit. We are independent from our institutions and are fully student-run, meaning that we not only fund ourselves, but also conduct all newspaper operations on our own as well. It’s hard work that often goes unnoticed, but I, as well as other student journalists, have always known it to be incredibly important.
As Editor-in-Chief, my biggest responsibility is to constantly advocate for our writers and editors. Despite facing hardships and road blocks, I always strive to make sure that everyone on our team is able to continue to do the hard work that they do. New University would not exist without the dedication of our 100-plus staff, and it’s a privilege of mine to ensure that their hard work continues and doesn’t go unnoticed.
Chris Ponce, The California Aggie, UC Davis
While it may feel as if issues of censorship, free speech and press rights are exclusively faced on the national level — the unfortunate reality is that these issues are just as present in the world of student journalism. In my position as Editor-in-Chief of The California Aggie, UC Davis’ official student newspaper, I’ve seen first-hand the difficulties student reporters face on a day-to-day basis. Regardless of scale, there is a consistent truth: Wherever there are people in power, they will try to censor those who hold them accountable.
Nonetheless, another truth remains: Student reporters will always be there to serve as watchdogs for those in power. With the hostile political climate we find ourselves in currently, the importance of student journalism is made as clear as ever. As student reporters, it is our obligation to report fairly and critically, and to foster free expression in our campus community. Everyday I hold myself and our staff to these values.
Free expression is timeless. Reporting freely and fairly on news such as student government, city government, local business, student life, and everything in between, helps our readers know more about the community they live in.
While there are certainly those who challenge our right to report freely, we will continue fighting our fight to shine a light where there otherwise is none, hold authority responsible for their actions — both public actions and those that happen behind closed doors — and tell the stories of those in our community.
About Student Press Freedom Day
Student Press Freedom Day is a national day of action when we celebrate the contributions of student journalists and the need to support their independence without censorship or threat to their advisers. We call attention to the arbitrary and needless censorship of student journalists, and call upon elected officials to restore and protect student press freedom. The Student Press Law Center created Student Press Freedom Day to give student journalists a platform to advocate for press freedom in their communities. We support the advocates with our legal and policy expertise, by educating them on their rights, and through our toolkit, designed to make hosting an event as easy as possible.
