In the wake of the Trump administration’s recent attacks on press freedom, Bark confronts the evolving landscape we face as journalists. In February, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt announced that the White House would monitor and select which press organizations would have access to press briefings. This switch departs from over a century of tradition, where the White House Correspondents Association, an independent organization, managed press access to the White House. As a result, the Washington Post remarked, “journalists and media critics warned that White House control of the press pool threatens the foundations of a free press.”
Moreover, threats to student journalism are surfacing in the Bay Area, despite it often being viewed as a “liberal hotspot.” At San Francisco’s Lowell High School, a journalism adviser, Eric Gustafson, was reassigned by Lowell’s administration after his students published coverage in their newspaper that described teacher harassment of students.
The action of Lowell’s administration contradicts the California Education Code, which states that “advisers cannot be dismissed, suspended, disciplined, reassigned, transferred, or otherwise retaliated against for acting to protect student expression or refusing to infringe on protected speech.”
In a time when press freedoms face growing threats — nationally and locally — Bark reflects on the independence we’ve enjoyed under the Tamalpais Union High School District (TUHSD).
After seven years in the position, Superintendent Tara Taupier will retire from TUHSD this June. Bark appreciates the lack of administrative interference with respect to our publication. Under Taupier’s tenure, our newsroom has successfully voiced student and staff opinion, published controversial April Fools’ editions and editorials critiquing the board. While the Board’s neutrality towards our publication is our inherent right that doesn’t require special recognition, there have been occasions where their active support has been truly appreciated. Following Bark’s editorial that urged the district to show the suicide prevention documentary “Not Alone” to the study body, the district recently announced they would work to consider Bark’s call-to-action in next year’s curriculum. It is important, however, that parents choose the trustees they vote for wisely, and vote for student interests.
Bark expresses our sincere thanks to our teachers and educators for consistently fostering a school environment that actively promotes thriving student journalism. In large, teachers, students and administration have graciously allowed us to conduct interviews with them, photograph them and their classrooms candidly and prioritize Bark — even during class time.
As district leadership changes, Bark welcomes Dr. Courtney Goode to assume the superintendent position, effective July 1, and expects that he will continue to protect the student press rights and uphold the standards to protect student expression and adviser security. As a staff, we look forward to building a productive relationship with our new superintendent based on the ideals of democracy and student press freedom. At a time when journalistic integrity is increasingly under threat, our newsroom defends the right to act independently and to seek truth and report it.