On the Censorship of the Gretna East Student Press.

Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this piece are my own and should not be interpreted as those of the rest of Gretna East Media. As a reporter for GEM, I have a direct stake in the events described below, but this piece was written independently and not at the direction or request of GEM or its staff.

Recently, Gretna East Media (GEM) reporter Aidan McClaren posted an editorial cartoon criticizing recent Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) operations in Minneapolis. Later, Gretna administrators forced GEM to take down McClaren's work.

This decision raises serious questions about student press freedom and the role of administrative oversight in shaping student journalism. While school administrators may argue that certain content could be disruptive or inappropriate, the removal of McClaren's cartoon sets a troubling precedent for censorship at Gretna East.

The cartoon addressed a matter of significant public interest—immigration enforcement actions that have sparked national debate. By removing this work, administrators sent a message that certain viewpoints are unwelcome in student media, regardless of their merit or relevance. If students in a journalism class aren't supposed to practice covering current and newsworthy topics, what are they supposed to cover?

§ 02—Prior reviewFrom a cartoon to a policy

After McClaren's cartoon was censored, he began writing an article on student censorship. The administration now required that the article go through administrative approval before publication, imposing prior review over GEM's ability to report independently.

So the administration is not only attempting to control which viewpoints students can share and what speech is truly "free," but also to hide its own criticism by watching over a student news publication. Our student journalists deserve better. Our school community deserves better. And the principles of press freedom that we claim to value demand better.

§ 03—The recordWho does the work

Any editorial decisions should be made by student journalists and their faculty advisers, not by administrators seeking to control the narrative. Administrators don't do the work, research, writing, or thinking that goes into creating student media, yet they get to decide whether their work is publishable.

The censorship of Gretna East Media is a test of our commitment to free expression and student voice. How we respond will determine whether GEM can truly serve its purpose as an independent student news organization or become merely another vehicle for administrative messaging.

This is not about politics. This is about the right to have a voice and the freedom to use it.

§ 04—VoicesFrom the signees

A selection of comments left by signees of the petition demanding a formal press freedom policy from Gretna Public Schools. Each quoted in full, with permission.

1. “I'm the Editor-in-Chief of my high school's newspaper, a couple miles over in Lincoln. I pride myself in speaking my mind and writing about what's happening objectively, without influence from others. This is more than just a cartoon depicting political commentary. Reporting on controversial matters is essential, because journalism is all about finding a story and reporting to the people, not to satisfy an administrative body. Advisers over admin, any day. Sending love to Gretna East!”
   — Joshua Carl
2. “As a former member of primary school newspapers I hope every student today takes note. News media is one of the citizen's most powerful weapons, but it's just as powerful when used by those in control. A truly strong and proud group welcomes criticism and builds change to right the wrongs before them. A weak group hides the truth, silences criticism, and sweeps the ashes under the rug.”
   — Robert Lawrence
3. “The job of media is to cover what is happening around you. To be told that you're ‘telling people what they want to hear’ is weird. News is about what is really happening.”
   — Artemis Wright
4. “Students deserve to have a voice just as much as anyone else. Censoring the news does not shield your children. All it does is create an ill-equipped and uninformed group of young adults who lack the basic understanding of world events. Their futures are being determined by those in power, and as a former student, I can say that it is a horrible feeling to be so powerless while watching history repeat itself. This blatant censorship is not only not fair, it is dangerous.”
   — Maddie Christianson

If you'd like to add your name, speak your mind and sign the petition. Questions, comments, or on-the-record responses from administrators are welcome — get in contact.