Special edition: Announcing the Student Press Report

I'm thrilled to finally publicly announce what I've been working on behind the scenes for months now: a national news desk focused on college journalism and student media.

Please welcome the Student Press Report, a year-long initiative funded by the Student Press Law Center and Flytedesk, with additional support from the Associated Collegiate Press, the Association of University Student Media Managers, the College Media Business and Advertising Managers and CollegeJournalism.org.

This brand-new reporting project will showcase the trials and tribulations facing collegiate news organizations and their staffs, as well as highlight the great work student journalists are doing on campuses across America.

Our first story is written by me, Barbara Allen (I will also serve as the editor of the Student Press Report). “Cash-starved and censored, America’s student press is in crisis” is a look at the state of student media in 2026 and the severe challenges that threaten America's student newsrooms, from censorship to money woes.

In the following weeks, we'll publish a feature on community college journalists in California working with incarcerated folks, and a column from three student journalists at Michigan State who live and breathe FOIA. And that's just the tip of the iceberg.

For at least the rest of the year, we'll bring you one in-depth story, column or thought leadership piece per week about the challenges and successes from within student media and college journalism.

That means we want your story ideas and pitches, whether you're a student, an educator or a freelancer. You can read our pitch guidelines here — and thanks to the generosity of our sponsors, we can pay good rates for great work.

Let us know what you'd like to see us write about and focus on, and encourage your students to pitch us their story ideas.

On behalf of myself, SPLC, Flytedesk, ACP, CMBAM and AUSMM, we hope you sincerely enjoy this community's recognition of the importance of journalism about student journalists. We can't wait to dive in and tell your story.

We'll be back next week with a regular edition of our newsletter.