SPJ/LA statement on treatment of student journalists covering university protests

In the wake of the violence at UCLA and college campuses across the US, student journalism is in a dire need now more than ever. SPJ/LA has released the following statement on behalf of the treatment of student journalists covering protests on their campus.

“The Los Angeles Chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists (SPJ/LA) stands in firm support of student journalists covering campus protests. These students play a critical role in ensuring that communities remain informed with critical and accurate reporting during even the most intense moments of protest and conflict on their campuses. By documenting events like those happening at UCLA, USC and other campuses throughout Southern California, student journalists work to faithfully represent the views of those both loud and quiet voices in their community.

Campus protests serve as vital expressions of democracy, and the role of journalists in these scenarios is just as central. Ensuring their ability to safely cover these events is not merely a responsibility of academic institutions but also a fundamental protection under the First Amendment.

We believe that safeguarding the rights of journalists to report freely is crucial to preserving the integrity of our democracy, and that doesn't stop at the entrance to campus. We call on universities and colleges to take active steps to protect student journalists and to recognize the indispensable role that journalists play in a free society.”