Free legal help & info for student journalists. First Amendment champion. Not affiliated with Southern Poverty Law Center @SPLCenter.
Washington, D.C.
Joined September 2008
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Student Press Law Center retweeted
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."
For @testudotimes, @JudeWilkenfeld and I were outside Jones-Hill House trying to get players to comment. An athletics staffer took pictures of us, and a police dispatch was called for suspicious activity; a cop and 2 cop cars pulled up, and officers ID’d us and asked us to leave.
Student Press Law Center retweeted
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!
Capital News Service reporter @IAMCATMURPHY explains why she kept recording after a tense exchange with Rep. Andy Harris, R-Md. Murphy has been commended for standing her ground during the confrontation and even appeared on @CNN where she was praised by host @JakeTapper.
Student Press Law Center retweeted
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 retweeted
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. bit.ly/45f7Dtt
Student Press Law Center retweeted
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." splc.org/2026/06/eight-stude…
Student Press Law Center retweeted
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. idsnews.com/article/2026/05/…
Student Press Law Center retweeted
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: secure.givelively.org/donate…
Student Press Law Center retweeted
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 ⬇️ edsource.org/2026/high-schoo…
Student Press Law Center retweeted
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. pressfreedomtracker.us/all-i…
Student Press Law Center retweeted
Mike Hiestand states the rules of student press have changed in recent times. The @SPLC’s initiative is to equip students with knowledge on policies to avoid repercussions.
Student Press Law Center retweeted
Join me in about an hour for a conversation as part of @ucfreespeech's annual #SpeechMatters conference, feat. @dbauder, @FrankLoMonte, @SPLC’s Mike Hiestand
uci.zoom.us/webinar/register…
Student Press Law Center retweeted
📢 Journalism professors! Want to bring digital security into your classroom?
FPF is offering a free virtual training program this summer to help you teach our J-school Digital Security Curriculum — no prior experience needed!
Sign up by April 8 👇 forms.gle/3vMyvuczeCamvXyQ7
Student Press Law Center retweeted
Come learn from @SPLC experts in Minneapolis! It is so important to understand the legal landscape that student journalism exists in, and this preconvention workshop is the perfect start.
Join the class in registration today! Prices increase Monday: ow.ly/SrTF50YtXEn
Student Press Law Center retweeted
Columns, editorials and other content available for free publication for Sunshine Week March 15-21!
sunshineweek.org/2026-conten…
Student Press Law Center retweeted
Mike and the SPLC are great resources for student journalists. #studentmedia
The public, not just students, need to pay attention to what’s happening across the country. Journalists are our watchdogs, keeping government accountable. Censorship keeps citizens from knowing truth.
Last week, Senior Legal Counsel Mike Hiestand shared his perspective on the state of #studentpressfreedom — informed by his 30-plus years at SPLC.
He summarizes it in five words:
⚠️ Danger
🚫 Censorship
💰 Money
😨 Fear
💪 Resilience
Watch the full conversation with student editors at IU, Alabama and Lowell High School here: loom.ly/OixcW8U
Student Press Law Center retweeted
Learn a little bit about New Voices in honor of Scholastic Journalism Week and how you can stand up for student press freedom in your state. More resources are available at splc.org.
Post and caption by Satvika Ramanathan
#SJW2026 #PressUnderPressure
Student Press Law Center retweeted
So much love for @dailyfreepress. Support student journalism not just on #StudentPressFreedom Day, but every day 🗞️
dailyfreepress.com/02/26/00/…
Student Press Law Center retweeted
Today is Student Press Freedom Day! A day to celebrate & defend the important work of college media and student journalists across the country. With your support and readership, The Red & Black can remain Fiercely Independent!
#studentpressfreedom
Student Press Law Center retweeted
🎉 Today is #StudentPressFreedom Day, a national moment to honor the important role of student journalists and advocate for their First Amendment rights.
Learn more via @SPLC: studentpressfreedom.org
Student Press Law Center retweeted
🧵 For Student Press Freedom Day today, the U.S. Press Tracker is looking back at 2025 and documenting the start of 2026, where already three student journalists have been assaulted at protests and a fourth caught in tear gas fired by federal officers.
pressfreedomtracker.us/all-i…
