This project is part of a workshop that provides a grant from Oklahoma Scholastic Media Initiative. Information was compiled from a survey posted to the JEA listerv regarding limitations of social media use for student journalists and their advisers.

1. Social Media Roadblocks
in scholastic journalism

2. “Our current principal is coming around
to social media. It is not something she
is totally comfortable with because of
the control that is lost and how someone
might use photos and information.”
-- Shelley, yearbook, digital media teacher, Texas

3. “They like it when we tweet information, but
won’t give us access on the network. We’d
love a Facebook page to promote our online
paper, but access to that is denied as well.
I should note that we are a 6-12 campus, so
many of our restrictions are because of the
younger students.”
-- Sandra, publications adviser, Iowa

4. Exception granted literally on a case-by-
case basis, subject to the whims of the
district […], who may restrict even news
and internet coverage if it is showing
the district in a negative light.”
-- Mike, journalism adviser, Texas

5. “Admin despises social media
because of all the bullying that goes
on and the fallout that they have to
deal with at school.”
-- Jerry, teacher, New Mexico

6. “I know admin continues to be frustrated
by how students use social media. They
spend a large percent of their time
handling issues related to how students
use social media outside of school.”
-- Julia, journalism teacher, California

7. “Years ago, no social media was allowed. I
fought for journalism needing an online
presence. We had to submit a social media
plan in order to have an account. Social media
sites are blocked on student laptops, but they
still have access on their phones. The attitude
has changed with a newer principal, and our
school district often retweets the information
we post on our sites.”
-- Bryan, adviser, Missouri

8. “I have found that it is best to just go
forth and expand our online presence
and don’t ask first. It is easier to ask
forgiveness.”
-- Janice, adviser, Texas

9. “My district encourages teachers to
utilize social media and so far has not
restricted organizations or co-
curricular activities from any use of
social media that we want.”
-- Kristy, journalism teacher, Kansas

10. “Luckily we’ve been able to maintain
student ownership of our publication’s
social media accounts since I began
advising. The school often reshares
materials.”
-- Kate, teacher, Pennsylvania

11. “I got myself on the technology
committee (partly) to try to open up social
media access, and I was pretty much told
they wouldn’t allow the journalism classes
access to social media because they can’t
open it for some and not for all.”
-- Kris, adviser, Arizona

12. “The only change was five years ago
when they were going to tell teachers not
to have contact with students through
social media, but I pointed out how overly
broad and simplistic that directive was,
so they simply said, “be careful; use good
judgment.”
-- Tripp, adviser, California