The National Association of Hispanic Journalists is deeply concerned to learn that student journalists at universities and colleges across the nation, including UCLA and Columbia University, are among those who have been injured or arrested while covering the ongoing student protests on their campuses.
NAHJ, which has 27 student chapters throughout the country, supports the constitutionally-protected rights of student journalists to document the civil unrest occurring on college campuses. Like professional journalists, student journalists document, investigate and report breaking news. Law enforcement agencies and campus administrators must ensure that student journalists can report without interference, restrictions, or threat of violence or arrest.Â
As advocates for journalists and the First Amendment rights of a free press, we encourage students to contact NAHJ regional directors or professional chapter leaders for guidance, resources and support. NAHJ student representative Edward Franco is also available to provide student members with assistance at efranco@nahj.org.
NAHJ’s bilingual Journalism Safety Guide outlines tips and resources to help journalists effectively and safely cover civil unrest.
The Student Press Law Center also offers helpful information on journalists’ rights as well as tips to stay safe when covering protests. For legal assistance, students can also contact the SPLC’s free Legal Hotline at splc.org/legalhelp.
NAHJ members seeking mental or emotional support, digital safety, and psychology first aid can also access free resources from Vita Activa, which provides online support and solutions for journalists, freedom of expression defenders and others.Â
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About NAHJ:Â
The National Association of Hispanic Journalists (NAHJ) is the largest organization of Latino journalists in the United States and is dedicated to the recognition and professional advancement of Hispanics in the news industry. Established in April 1984, NAHJ created a national voice and unified vision for all Hispanic journalists. The mission of NAHJ is to increase the number of Latinos in the newsrooms and to work toward fair and accurate representation of Latinos in news media. NAHJ has more than 3,600 members, including working journalists, journalism students, other media-related professionals and journalism educators. For more information please visit NAHJ.org or follow on Twitter @NAHJ.Â
Media Contacts:
Iván Briones
ibriones@nahj.org
855-244-4111
Andrew Sherry
asherry@nahj.org
305.954.7571