Press Freedom and Censorship - Term Paper Example

The most recent case of harassment was in October 2014 during the Berkley protest. Before the recent protests for the shooting of Michael Brown, cases of harassment of professional journalists by the police in the United States has been low (Stelter 2014). Clearly, law enforcement treats student journalists different from professional ones. SUPPORTING FACTS Recording events that are open to the public is a civil right. Public spaces in the case of photography include government buildings, public transport, and law enforcement officers or civil servants conducting their work.

This means student journalists are free to gather news in the public freely (Glenn 2012). OPPOSING SIDES Laws pertaining to the disruption of police activity confine student journalists. Unlike professional journalists, student journalists cannot videotape police officers at work although it is a First Amendment right. According to SPLC (Student Press Law Center), law enforcement officers can consider videotaping without a license an action of disorderly behavior, refusal to comply, and trespassing (SPLC 2013).

In addition, this is why student journalists face different legal considerations around videotaping laws. Unlike professional journalists, law enforcers are more unenthusiastic about their work being captured on camera by student journalists. Student journalists should be free to gather news publicly without police interference. However, student journalists lack licenses that allow them to videotape police activity while adhering to their directives. One solution for this problem is journalism teachers teaching their students about the limitations they face while gathering news in the public without licenses.