By Benjamin Davis / The Jambar
Youngstown Press Club and The Jambar hosted an event for Student Press Freedom Day on Feb. 25 in Jones Hall at Youngstown State University. The event featured presentations from members of The Jambar’s staff.
Student Press Freedom Day is a national event meant to recognize the contributions of student journalism. Diane Fitzpartrick, executive director of Youngstown Press Club, said it provides the community a chance to support student journalism and learn about it.
“Student Press Freedom Day is a day that we can, as a community, support student journalists and let everyone know what the role of a student journalist is and what the student press is,” Fitzpatrick said.
Student Press Freedom Day was first created by Student Press Law Center, a nonprofit that seeks to defend the free press rights of student journalists. This event is one of multiple projects that they have to further that goal.
“This is one of many projects that they have. They work on the legal aspect of student journalists and freedom of the press as far as student journalism goes,” Fitzpatrick said. “This is just kind of a national day of recognition that they sponsor.”
Youngstown Press Club is an organization of journalists in the Mahoning Valley that works to promote journalism. As part of that mission, Fitzpatrick said they work to support students involved in journalism with events such as Student Press Freedom Day.
“A big part of our mission is to support students and journalism students in the future of journalism,” Fitzpatrick said. “And so this event helps us to be able to help them get the word out on what the student press is and what their goals are.”
Youngstown Press Club has existed in different iterations since 1902, with its current form founded seven years ago by YSU faculty to promote the future of journalism.
“We established about seven years ago under Mary Beth and Adam Earnhardt from YSU. The press club has been around for many, many years in different iterations,” Fitzpatrick said. “We started back up again, and one of the main points of our mission is to support the future of journalism.”
Since starting back up, the press club has become a partner to YSU and has opportunities on offer for YSU students involved in journalism.
“We have a great partner in YSU, and they’re doing a great job with the students,” Fitzpatrick said. “We also offer mentorships, and we offer free membership to students. This is just one of the ways that we fulfill our mission to help student journalists.”
Student Press Freedom Day is held nationally, typically in February, and has been held annually for nine years. Each year has a theme, with this year being “Resilience in Action.” It is meant to celebrate how student journalists let their voices be heard, even in the threat of censorship.