Vision Statement

The Student Press Law Center is a champion for student voices.

Recognizing the essential roles freedoms of speech and press play in a democratic society, the SPLC is committed to nurturing and protecting those freedoms for students. As the authoritative voice on students' media rights, the SPLC will:

• Strive to help a diverse population of young people understand, value and practice free-press rights, which are fundamental to active and informed citizenship and the key to producing high-quality student media.
• Provide leadership on First Amendment issues as they apply to all student media, including the Internet and evolving technologies.
• Communicate the value of student free-expression rights to the journalism, education, legal and philanthropic communities and to the general public.
• Maintain a national presence, expand its financial and human resources, and respond immediately to the changing needs of its constituencies.

Mission Statement

The Student Press Law Center is an advocate for student free-press rights and provides information, advice and legal assistance at no charge to students and the educators who work with them.

Key Strategic Priorities

Providing Legal Assistance for Students
The strategy: The Student Press Law Center will serve as a comprehensive source of legal advice and information about First Amendment and freedom-of-information rights for students and their advisers. The SPLC will expand its influence and authority in the area of student press law, especially with regard to students' free-expression rights on the Internet and their access to information available there.

Serving Underserved Groups of Students
The strategy: The SPLC will increase its outreach efforts to ensure that underserved students -- those who may be without traditional student media organizations -- have access to information and a voice in their communities.

Educating Students/Reaching out to many Constituencies
The strategy: The SPLC will increase its outreach to all students, especially those who publish on the Internet or outside the mainstream of organized school journalism programs. The SPLC will increase its use of the Internet as well as continue traditional vehicles (publications, workshops, presentations to key audiences) to increase greater awareness and understanding of student press law, student rights and responsibilities. The SPLC will serve students and their advisers as its primary constituents, but also will work to ensure that other educators and interested parties support students' free-press rights.

Establishing Financial Stability
The strategy: The SPLC's Board of Directors and staff will commit the organization to a comprehensive fund development plan. The SPLC will develop its own infrastructure -- including staffing, technical expertise and Web-based resources -- to ensure it is able to meet the increasing demands and needs of students, educators, professional journalists and members of the public.