Private Schools and Student Media : Supporting Mission, Students, and Community

This book explores the role of student media in private K–12 schools in the United States. It argues that student media offers strong support to the mission-based private school experience and environment, and can be an asset toward preparing young people for lives of service and citizenship.

Private Schools and Student Media explores the activities of student media outlets, content creators and advisers in K–12 private schools in the United States. The unique nature of private schools, separate from government funding but not all government oversight, creates its own opportunities and challenges for students seeking their own outlets to pursue questions, answers and voice. Through surveys and content analysis of schools, student media advisers and student media work, Erica Salkin explores the reality of censorship in private schools—where the First Amendment does not play the same role as in public schools—and the perspectives of teachers who dedicate time, effort, and expertise to make the learning laboratory of the student newspaper or yearbook a reality. Ultimately, this book proposes that student media can be a significant asset to a private school’s mission, students, and school community: to prepare young people for lives of service and good citizenship. Scholars of communication, media studies, journalism, and education will find this book particularly useful.