Hawaii Student Journalists Are Poised To Gain Press Freedom Guarantees … A bill extending more First Amendment protections to student journalists and their advisers awaits Gov. David Ige’s signature.
Nyler Acasio, a junior at McKinley High School, is ready to “investigate the truth and report about it” without fear after the Legislature passed a bill providing new protection from censorship for student journalists and their advisers.
The measure allows student journalists from the University of Hawaii and other public schools to exercise the First Amendment, which guarantees freedom of speech, at their school newspapers, with the exception of libelous or obscene material.
House Bill 1848 is a signature away from becoming law, a victory for advocates after some three years of legislative efforts.
