PRINTER'S NO. 1380
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE RESOLUTION
No.
221
Session of
2019
INTRODUCED BY COMITTA, KORTZ, BURNS, DiGIROLAMO, LONGIETTI,
DONATUCCI, WILLIAMS, O'MARA, MURT, KINSEY, BIZZARRO, MILLARD,
DAVIDSON, HILL-EVANS, READSHAW AND NEILSON, APRIL 11, 2019
INTRODUCED AS NONCONTROVERSIAL RESOLUTION UNDER RULE 35,
APRIL 11, 2019
A RESOLUTION
Designating calendar year 2019 as the "Year of the Student
Journalist" in Pennsylvania.
WHEREAS, A free press is essential to the support and
preservation of our freedoms; and
WHEREAS, Student journalists play a key role in the civic
life of their community; and
WHEREAS, Student journalists report on important issues in
the life of a school or school district; and
WHEREAS, As the number of professional journalists has
dwindled, student journalists often also fill the gap in
reporting on State, county and regional issues; and
WHEREAS, The right to freedom of speech and freedom of the
press is guaranteed by the Constitution of the United States
and the Constitution of Pennsylvania for every resident of this
Commonwealth, including student journalists; and
WHEREAS, This Commonwealth's regulations pertaining to
student freedom of expression serve to further support and
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protect the free speech rights of student journalists attending
public high schools; and
WHEREAS, It is highly important that student journalists are
free to exercise their Federal and State constitutional rights
to freedom of speech and freedom of the press; and
WHEREAS, Students across this nation have led efforts to
preserve and protect student press freedom, which has resulted
in the enactment of legislation in 14 states and pending
legislation in at least eight other states; and
WHEREAS, In 2014, a Pew research study found that student
journalists comprise 14% of the overall state House reporting
corps within this nation's 50 state capitol buildings; and
WHEREAS, 2019 marks the 50th anniversary of the 1969 United
States Supreme Court decision in Tinker v. Des Moines
Independent Community School District, which was a landmark
ruling defending the free press and free speech rights of
students; therefore be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives designate
calendar year 2019 as the "Year of the Student Journalist" in
Pennsylvania; and be it further
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives honor this
Commonwealth's high school, college and university student
journalists for their role in exercising, preserving and
protecting Federal and State constitutional rights to freedom of
speech and freedom of the press.
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