Intro to Digital Media Literacy

The reading from the Student Press Law Center outlined the rights that students who participate in Journalism, both on and off campus, have and how to protect their journalistic integrity. I thought it interesting that the scenarios given by the article seemed outlandish and a little absurd to me. I think that just speaks to the level of journalistic opportunity I have been afforded over the years. Maybe it speaks to the level of education I have been given, but I’ve never really had to worry about being censored, or what I can and cannot say when it comes to my writing. Todays youth is much more opinionated, and I feel like todays culture really advocates for going against what might be thought of as “traditional authority”. I also feel as though adults in those positions of power aren’t as inclined to enforce that level of authority because of cancel culture and its unpredictability. Something interesting that the article also touched on was the idea of defamation, and what separates defamation from an opinion. Interestingly enough, the determinant of defamation is less so in the wording and more in the information shared than anything else. However, defamation itself is a bit harder to actually be sued for. You have to be actively spreading lies about someone, horse realities or critiques do not count. Similarly, when it comes to publishing articles and stories online with an added comment section, the publishing party is not legally responsible for anything that the public may have to comment on the piece. I also found it interesting that while at public institutions (both secondary school and collegiate institutions), regardless of who funds the student publication (student paper, radio station, etc), it is in direct violation of the first amendment. However, the same cannot be said for private institutions. What differentiates the two was not specified, but it can be assumed that it is because of the funding that each respective institution receives and from whom they receive it. All in all, the reading outlines what all student reporters should know and how they should conduct themselves when it comes to their reporting, who can and cannot sensor them, and what they should watch out for when it comes to abiding by their first amendment rights and not abusing them.