Student Press Law Center

Free legal help & info for student journalists. First Amendment champion. Not affiliated with Southern Poverty Law Center @SPLCenter.

[Student Press Law Center @SPLC]

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| WE'RE |
| NOT THE |
| SOUTHERN |
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| LAW CENTER |
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[Jawn F. Kennedy @jawn_f_kennedy]

The @SPLC ‘s endless chain of replies of “hey you tagged the wrong SPLC” on twitter is almost as funny as their automated message that plays when you call that reminds you they are not the Southern Poverty Law Center

[Testudo Times @testudotimes]

Official statement from a Maryland spokesperson on behalf of UMPD and Maryland Athletics regarding a police dispatch's interaction with Testudo Times reporters:

"UMPD was contacted today, October 21, 2026, about two individuals who were standing outside of Jones Hill House. Due to heightened concerns for staff and player safety around the football program in recent weeks, there has been increased security around athletics facilities. A UMPD officer approached the two individuals, learned they were with a campus media organization, recorded student IDs, and no report was taken.

UMPD and Maryland Athletics respect the First Amendment rights of all journalists reporting in public spaces."

[Student Press Law Center @SPLC]

@JudeWilkenfeld Kudos to you for handling this so well. If we can be helpful, please let us know! You can talk with our lawyers for free here: https://t.co/ZBhLK1pNtl

[Student Press Law Center @SPLC]

Journalists will sometimes be told, confidently and incorrectly, that they’re breaking the law.

That happened this week when Rep. Andy Harris threatened to refer Cat Murphy, a student reporter with the University of Maryland’s @CNSmd, for prosecution for recording his press briefing. Maryland’s all-party consent law doesn’t apply to public press events, and Murphy kept doing her job.

To help other student journalists prepare for these situations, we explain what state recording laws actually say, explore where the First Amendment comes in, and offer practical tips for handling them.

https://t.co/s79Y4imV7B

[Student Press Law Center @SPLC]

Cat Murphy knew the law and stood her ground. To help other students prepare for these situations, we explain what state recording laws actually say, explore where the First Amendment comes in, and offer practical tips for handling them. https://t.co/BeMuOPfLt0

[Student Press Law Center @SPLC]

When a member of Congress threatens a student journalist for doing their job, the student isn't the one who needs a lesson in the law.

We applaud University of Maryland student journalist Cat Murphy for knowing the law and standing her ground on behalf of the readers she serves. When Rep. Andy Harris claimed she couldn't record his news conference — and threatened prosecution if she continued — she knew that his threats were empty under Maryland's state recording laws. Check out her conversation below with CNN's @jaketapper about how, and why, she stood her ground.

Student journalists are journalists. They have the same right to cover a public official as anyone in the press pool. They deserve the same respect when they do.

At SPLC, we stand with all the student journalists who face threats, intimidation or retaliation. If you have questions about your state's recording laws, or you've faced a threat like this, contact our Legal Hotline for free, confidential help: https://t.co/s5XNGUrZ7L

[The Lead CNN @TheLeadCNN]

'It's been a lot. But I was focused on doing my job and asking my questions that I wanted answers to.' Student journalist Cat Murphy joins @jaketapper to respond after GOP Rep. Andy Harris threatened to have her prosecuted for recording his answers during a news conference.

[Nicholas Kristof @NickKristof]

Student journalist @IAMCATMURPHY is a reminder that while the business model of journalism is uncertain, the talent level of young people like her seeking to become journalists is not. Student journalists rock!

[Merrill College @ Maryland @merrillcollege]

Merrill College students know their rights as journalists.

"Cat Murphy is a master's student at the University of Maryland, credentialed as a reporter for our Capital News Service and doing the job we teach our students to do. Cat recorded openly in a public space alongside other news outlets, and that is her legal right," Dean Rafael Lorente (@DeanLorente) said. "I'm proud of how she handled herself in a difficult situation."

[Student Press Law Center @SPLC]

Student journalism is journalism. Period.

https://t.co/62rLm26EIL

[The Nation @thenation]

According to reporting from Poynter, calls to the Student Press Law Center’s legal hotline rose 42 percent from the 2022–23 academic year to the 2023–24 academic year. The number-one culprit? Censorship. https://t.co/FsKQAg8O4m

[Student Press Law Center @SPLC]

It takes a lot of courage for students to tell their principals they're wrong, even when the law is on their side. But as Ben and Madison suggest here, it's just another day in the life of a student journalist. We were proud to offer them our support.

[WIRED @WIRED]

An Instagram post about Jeffrey Epstein’s ties to wealthy communities in Marin County, CA, turned one California student newspaper into a free-speech flash point. The students say they were just doing their homework.
https://t.co/hHiwAtZBkr

[Student Press Law Center @SPLC]

@WIRED It takes a lot of courage for students to tell their principals they're wrong, even when the law is on their side. But as Ben and Madison suggest here, it's just another day in the life of a student journalist. We were proud to offer them our support.

[Cate Charron @catecharron]

A lawsuit stemming from Indiana University's @idsnews fiasco is one of eight cases that the @SPLC is tracking and "that could have long-lasting implications for student press freedom and beyond." https://t.co/1TJw4VGbET

[Student Press Law Center @SPLC]

The Student Press Law Center condemns a federal court ruling upholding — for now, at least — the University of Alabama’s decision to shut down two student magazines, calling the decision a significant threat to student press freedom nationwide.

Read our full statement: https://t.co/ZLrXgPIJyD

[Student Press Law Center @SPLC]

➡️ The task force's recommendations: https://t.co/5kVCi8BtAV ➡️
➡️The IDS editors' letter: https://t.co/7tQMko25Y9
➡️ SPLC's Mike Hiestand explains to the IndyStar the legal protections for editorial independence: https://t.co/ldznLdMrSB

[Student Press Law Center @SPLC]

It's been a year of tumult and uncertainty for student media at @IndianaUniv. Now, editors of the @idsnews say that, "for the first time in years, we’re at the precipice of a beneficial cycle."

An IU-appointed task force, which included student leaders, released its recommendations for securing the future of IU's student media. The report affirms editorial independence, which reinforces the university's goals rather than competes with them.

The ball is now in IU's court. It must choose to invest in student media, protect its editorial independence and create space for innovation.

Will administrators listen to their community?

Links below ⤵️

[Indiana Daily Student @idsnews]

LETTER FROM THE EDITORS: The future of student media is now in IU’s hands. If the administration has learned from October, they’ll know it’s time to implement the task force’s recommendations. https://t.co/TGnbsuGotl

[rickhirsch @rickhirsch]

Student journalists face growing censorship and other threats, and @SPLC has their backs. I'm proud to serve on its board. Right now, donations go twice as far through a $20K challenge grant. Join me: https://t.co/cFX4bdTzNv

[First Amendment Coalition (follow us on Bluesky) @FACoalition]

A CA school district ordered student journalists to take down two stories -- a violation of the state's student journalists' press rights law. @thomas_peele talked to @splc and FAC's @davidloysd about school admins squelching students' press freedom ⬇️ https://t.co/cqgLvyWZjm

[Student Press Law Center @SPLC]

Despite all the threats, student journalists persist. They are asking hard questions, telling essential stories, and seeking support. And we have their backs with free legal help.

Your gift helps us meet a $20,000 matching challenge, doubling your impact!

Give today: https://t.co/cvZaKHYea1

[U.S. Press Freedom Tracker @uspresstracker]

Daniela Raymundo was among four student journalists from Los Angeles Pierce College’s The Bull Magazine who were cornered by @LAPDHQ officers, ordered to show press credentials and escorted away from a protest they were covering in downtown LA on March 28. https://t.co/oaW5to0hZk