Apply for the high school and college press freedom awards, deadline August 15

We’re seeking student journalists (both high school and college) to recognize for persisting through tough circumstances to tell a story critically important to their classmates and community.

Examples include taking a stand against censorship or other threats to publishing, pushing back when initially denied public records and/or stories that expose misdeeds, malfeasance or corruption.

The submission deadline for both awards (covering stories published during the 2021-22 academic year) is Aug. 15, 2022.

Learn more and apply here

Hawaii becomes 16th New Voices state

Congratulations to Hawaii for becoming the 116th New Voices state! The law was signed by Governor Ige earlier this week.

Apply to the New Voices Student Leaders Institute by June 3

Do you know a high school student who wants to see student press freedom signed into law in your state? Are they ready to take on an increased role in the New Voices movement?

Tell them to apply now for the New Voices Student Leaders Institute, a free, four-day program for students to develop their leadership and organizing skills, expand their role as leaders within the New Voices movement, and identify a strategy that could be instrumental in your state’s New Voices efforts.

The Institute will run from July 11-21, and participants should expect to participate from Monday – Thursday from 1pm-4pm Eastern/10am-2pm Pacific time.

Apply here

Q: I just got a bill for a Creative Commons photo we used. What gives?

A: Popular Creative Commons sites such as Wikimedia, Flickr, Pixabay include hundreds of thousands of photos and images that you can use for free if — and this is the big big IF — if you comply with the photo’s Creative Commons license, which usually is listed alongside the photo. Sometimes that just means you have to include the photographer’s name. Sometimes it means you can’t significantly alter the original image or can’t make a profit off of it. Whatever it says, if you want to use a Creative Commons photo you must take the time to read and comply with the license requirements or risk being sued for copyright infringement. Unfortunately, some photographers and companies are now intentionally taking advantage by including very specific or complex licensing terms that they know most – or at least many — users probably won’t comply with. Let’s call it what is: a trap. And once a user falls into their trap, a demand letter soon follows.

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