ALUMNI INVOLVEMENT

Journalism alumni have insight regarding student press rights and other scholastic journalism interests . They can speak with greater awareness , credibility and understanding than most citizens without such a background .

Alumni can make “ noise ” while students and their journalism mentors are silenced by administrators who arbitrarily censor speech that is unpopular , disagreeable , critical or otherwise unwelcomed by those with power . Alumni , who are not subordinate to school officials , can demand transparency , accountability and rationale without a fear of reprisals .

Scholastic media alumni can be helpful to the Student Press Law

Center , America ’ s ardent advocate for student press rights . By providing local support for protecting student press rights and by providing financial , moral and advocacy support for the SPLC , alumni can wield significant power .

ADVISER ACTION

Every staff can benefit by obtaining resources produced by the Echo alumni : the 40-page conceptual memory book “ treasure ,” a CD of newspaper “ voices ” and access to four YouTube videos that can help initiate conversations about the value of journalism education .

Echo alumni donated hundreds of copies of the memory book to the Student Press Law Center in Washington , D . C . They hired professionals to assist in the production of the new resources . The goal is to provide inspirational how-to and motivation to other media staffs .

The committee has made it easy to obtain the new resources . Simply make a tax-deductible donation of any size to the Student Press Law Center here . Receive a free resource for your journalism program as availability permits . At the same time , immediately assist SPLC , which is now involved in 21 additional state campaigns , all costly , for a Freedom of Expression law . Stay engaged !

“ Glenbard East ’ s Echo newspaper ( Lombard , Illinois ), not only told , it showed ; not only reported , it influenced ; not only stirred , it spurred ,” said Randy Swikle , a member of the Illinois Press Foundation and the 1999 Dow Jones News Fund National High School Journalism Teacher of the Year . “ When I attended the remarkable May 2 , 2015 , reunion of Echo alumni — 190 former staff members representing a 26-year span under Howard Spanogle ’ s mentorship — I anticipated an extraordinary event that would validate the value of scholastic journalism .”

Swikle knew this unique gathering would be more than a celebration of camaraderie and of good times past .

“ These were people who learned early to probe for substance . Any partying would be secondary to sharing prodigious perceptions of free and responsible student news media . Alumni shared experiences with purpose : Show that empowering student journalists with the functions of authentic American journalism serves the best interests of school communities ,” he said .

“ I expected to be wowed — and I was .”

Being a strong advocate for freedom of expression , Swikle valued the unique contributions of the EchoXtra 2015 celebration :

“ The congenial , engaging reunion of Echo alumni was accented by peripheral activities and media creations the alumni produced for their gathering . The EchoXtra 40-page memory book , the CD history of Echo art , articles and pages and the DVDs of memorable speeches and thoughtful interviews were inspiring on many levels ,” he said . “ They … delivered rationale , evidence and powerful support justifying student news media that exemplify the role and values of American journalism .”

He believes the reunion package functions as a compelling rebuttal to arguments advanced by autocratic school authorities who deny student news media the status of designated public forums . The package , according to Swikle , delivers a status that maximizes the results of First Amendment freedoms .

“ Authenticated success ,” he added , “ trumps contrived fears and selfserving agendas . The reunion , with its panoramic dynamics , provided solid evidence of the benefits of free , responsible student news media . Who can argue against success ?”

In the YouTube videos , alumni , now prominent achievers in their occupational fields , have credibility as they testify about the value of scholastic journalism and how their experiences as student reporters influenced their lives .

Alumni speakers included a NASA astronaut who flew on two space missions , award-winning journalists , eminent business executives , inspiring educators and others who reflected on the insights they gained by pursuing and practicing professional standards of journalism .