In 2001, a student opinion article at Novato High School (NHS) sparked a legal battle that altered the school’s relationship with student journalism. The piece, which expressed anti-immigration views and opposition to affirmative action, reshaped how the school approached its student press for the foreseeable future.

Although the California Supreme Court ruled in favor of the student, the original student newspaper, The Buzz, was shut down. Student journalists no longer had an official platform at NHS.

In 2018, journalism returned to NHS with the launch of The Swarm under adviser Josh Rosenberg. Built in the shadow of the earlier controversy, the program ran with limited financial support. Still, students reported on real issues, published their work and stood by their bylines.

In 2022, The Swarm shut down.

This documentary examines what students built, why it disappeared and what supporting student journalism truly requires.

Filmed and edited by Madison Bishop.