FCPS released a new set of guidelines on Nov. 14 to manage student journalist coverage of controversial topics. Per the new policy, students across the county are subject to feedback and content limitations from administrators.
“The guidelines are to help teachers, students and administrators navigate something that might be considered controversial,” said Stacey Kiggins, the FCPS High School Language Arts Specialist.
The guidelines were written this September and came in response to criticism of the content of several student publications, including a school yearbook.
Last school year, Oakton High School received community backlash after printing pictures of Israel-Hamas student protests in the 2023-2024 yearbook. FCPS subsequently offered refunds to students who wished to return their yearbooks, and the school’s yearbook process was placed under review.
Principals from several schools across the county requested further guidance on managing controversy in journalism programs. In response, guidelines were released; the document includes a section informing school publications that they must share timelines with administrators and schedule opportunities to receive feedback before deadlines. Additionally, the guidance grants building administrators the final decision on controversial content.
Efforts to oppose these restrictions have already emerged. At a Dec. 5 school board meeting, board members Ryan McElveen and Mateo Dunne proposed a motion to prevent prior review or content approval in student journalism. The motion failed to pass in a majority vote of 9-3.
“I am concerned the trajectory of actions by FCPS has the potential to infringe on First Amendment rights,” McElveen said. “I think that students and their advisers should have the ability to publish what they deem acceptable.”
This proposed board motion came in response to reports that schools across FCPS have been prevented from covering Hayfield High School’s football team recruitments from Freedom High School and around the DMV area.
Some student reporters have expressed concerns about covering such topics, fearing retribution from administrators that could jeopardize their publications.
“Usually, [controversial content] will get published, but we have also had too many close calls and we would like to remain an open forum, so topics like our football team stay out of the picture for the sake of our writers,” said senior Ava Saunders, Editor-in-Chief of the Harvester News, Hayfield High School’s student publication.
Administrators argue that the recent guidelines address instances where student journalists mishandle polarizing content.
“I don’t think that there’s a single principal in Fairfax County that would be interested in censoring students when [topics have] been handled well,” Kiggins said. “If a student publication handles an incredibly controversial issue in poor taste, then the principal has every right to say you need to try again.”
After the 2024-2025 school year, the programs of studies for journalism classes will be rewritten to include more comprehensive guidance for teachers. Some are concerned about the impact new policies could have on journalistic coverage in the county.
“I think the current FCPS administration is generally concerned about anything that makes us look bad,” McElveen said. “Part of loving an institution is that you work to make it better. In many ways, FCPS has lost sight of the importance of having students bring to light issues we otherwise might not hear about.”