HB 2918 — Establishes the "Cronkite Journalistic Standards and New Voices Act" to protect the freedom of press in school-sponsored media

SECOND REGULAR SESSION HOUSE COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE FOR HOUSE BILL NO.

2918 103RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY INTRODUCED5792H.02C BYJOSEPH REPRESENTATIVEENGLER, MILLER.Chief Clerk AN ACT To amend chapters 171 and 173, RSMo, by adding thereto two new sections relating to student journalists.

5792H.01I JOSEPH ENGLER, Chief Clerk AN ACT To amend chapters 171 and 173, RSMo, by adding thereto two new sections relating to student journalists.

This section and section 173.1551 shall be known and may be cited as the "Cronkite Journalistic Standards and New Voices Act".

(1) "School-sponsored"Cronkite media",Journalistic anyStandards", materialthe thatfollowing isstandards prepared,required substantiallyof written, published, or broadcast by a studentnews journalistsource: at a public high school;

(a) The news source adheres to the objectivity norm, which requires:

a.

Separating news and commentary;

b.

Prioritizing verification over speed;

c.

Ensuring any personal imprint on facts being reported is minimal;

and d.

Serving the public rather than the newsroom brand;

(b) At least fifty-one percent of the material in the news source constitutes "news", defined as material that presents only facts without hearsay or anonymous quotes, relies only on sources that have been verified, presents both sides of a position, and excludes any language that colors the perception of the consumer;

(c) Commentary and editorial material constitute ten percent or less of the news source;

(d) Any commentary in the news section of the news source is clearly identified and separated from the news article or material;

EXPLANATION — Matter enclosed in bold-faced brackets [thus] in the above bill is not enacted and is intended to be omitted from the law.

Matter in bold-face type in the above bill is proposed language.

HCS HB 2918 2 (e) Before publication of the news source, the fairness doctrine, which required broadcasters to afford reasonable opportunity for the discussion of conflicting views on issues of public importance, is considered for guidance in upholding the Cronkite Journalistic Standards.

This subdivision shall not be construed to require adherence to the fairness doctrine;

and (f) The news source is not perceived or deemed to have supported or opposed any subject covered, as determined from the perspective of a reasonable consumer of the news source;

(2) "School-sponsored media", any material that is prepared, substantially written, published, or broadcast by a student journalist at a public high school;

(2)(3) "Student journalist", a public high school student who gathers, compiles, writes, edits, photographs, records, produces, or prepares content for dissemination in school-sponsored media;

(3)(4) "Student-media advisor", an individual employed, appointed, or designated by a school district to supervise or provide instruction relating to school-sponsored media.

A student journalist has the right to exercise EXPLANATIONfreedom —of Matterspeech enclosedand inof bold-facedthe bracketspress [thus] in theschool-sponsored abovemedia. bill is not enacted and is intended to be omitted from the law.

Matter in bold-face type in the above bill is proposed language.

HB 2918 2 freedom of speech and of the press in school-sponsored media.

HCS HB 2918 3 (3) Violates federal or state law;

No school district, member of the board of education, student-media advisor, or employee of a school district shall be held liable in any civil or criminal action for any publication or other expression of matter by student journalists in the exercise of rights HB 2918 3 under this section except to the extent that such persons or entities actively participated in the conduct that is the subject of the civil or criminal action or knew of the conduct and failed to take timely action to prevent or withdraw such publication or expression that is the subject of the civil or criminal action.

9.

School-sponsored media shall not be protected under this section unless the media is a news source that conforms to the Cronkite Journalistic Standards.

HCS HB 2918 4 10.

Commentary and editorial content in school-sponsored media shall be protected under this section as long as the content appears in a news source that conforms to the Cronkite Journalistic Standards.

(1) "School-sponsored"Cronkite media",Journalistic anyStandards", materialthe thatsame ismeaning prepared,given substantiallyto written,the published,term or broadcast by a student journalist at a public institution of higher education in thissection state;171.200;

(2) "School-sponsored media", any material that is prepared, substantially written, published, or broadcast by a student journalist at a public institution of higher education in this state;

(2)(3) "Student journalist", a student of a public institution of higher education who gathers, compiles, writes, edits, photographs, records, produces, or prepares content for dissemination in school-sponsored media;

(3)(4) "Student-media advisor", an individual employed, appointed, or designated by a public institution of higher education in this state to supervise or provide instruction relating to school-sponsored media.

HB 2918 4 (3) Violates federal or state law;

HCS HB 2918 5 5.