SPLC STRATEGIC PLAN 2010 - 2015The Student Press Law Center will use the law to help students of all ages meaningfully participate in civic life and learn essential skills, ethics and values through the vehicle of journalism.In June 2008, the Student Press Law Center's Board of Directors embarked on a strategic planning process. The organization's previous strategic plan, drafted in 1999, resulted in a successful endowment campaign and a complete restructuring of the organization's board, among other accomplishments. The 2010-15 plan was designed to build on that solid foundation to create a more effective and sustainable SPLC.Student Press Law CenterSPLC_3bc38682-56e5-11e7-9dde-caa3ba4b020aStudent JournalistsThe SPLC provides information, training and legal assistance at no charge to student journalists and the educators who work with them.SPLC BOARD OF DIRECTORSas of June 2012Mark Stodder(chairman), Executive Vice President, Newspapers, Dolan Media Company, Minneapolis, Minn.Javier J. AldapeVice President of Niche Products, E.W. Scripps Company, Chicago, Ill.Caesar AndrewsDistinguished Visiting Professor, Washington & Lee University, Lexington, Va.A.J. Bauerfreelance journalist/graduate student, New York University, New York, N.Y.Patrick CaromePartner, WilmerHale, Washington, D.C.Kevin CorcoranProgram Director, Lumina Foundation for Education, Indianapolis, Ind.Susan EnfieldSuperintendent, Highline Public Schools, Burien, Wash.Maureen FreemanPrograms Coordinator, Newseum, Washington, D.C.Andrew LihAssociate Professor, USC Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism, Los Angeles, Calif.Laura Lee PratherPartner, Haynes & Boone LLP, Austin, Tex.Geanne RosenbergProfessor, CUNY-Baruch College, New York, N.Y.Mary Stappjournalism educator, Washington, D.C.Mark StencelManaging Editor-Digital News, NPR, Washington, D.C.Reginald StuartDirector of Corporate Recruiting, The McClatchy Company, Silver Spring, Md.Frank D. LoMonte, Esq.(ex officio), Executive Director, Student Press Law Center, Arlington, Va.... a more hospitable educational environment in which students can safely and freely learn and publish, and their educators can safely teach, free from fear of reprisal. _3bc388da-56e5-11e7-9dde-caa3ba4b020aTo advocate for student First Amendment rights, for freedom of online speech, and for open government on campus._3bc38a38-56e5-11e7-9dde-caa3ba4b020aLawJournalismFreedom of ExpressionCivic EngagementNews & CommentaryCreate greater awareness of, and protection for, the rights of students to gather and distribute news and commentary._3bc38b28-56e5-11e7-9dde-caa3ba4b020a1Assistance & TrainingDeliver legal assistance and training reliably, and make it easily accessible to all students and educators who need it: _3bc38c0e-56e5-11e7-9dde-caa3ba4b020a1.1The SPLC will fortify its standing as the recognized authority and provider of information on the law governing student journalism in all its forms, and will make that information more accessible and engaging to reach a wider audience... EXPECTED OUTCOMES * Instances of censorship or of obstruction of student journalists' access will be successfully resolved. * The SPLC will expand the reach of its legal training by harnessing the latest technologies and partnering with complementary organizations. * The attorney referral network will receive more assignments and will grow accordingly. Attorney HotlineKeep the attorney hotline fully staffed with trained, qualified lawyers, and market its availability beyond traditional student journalism circles, so no student fails to receive service because he or she is unaware that the SPLC exists._3bc38d08-56e5-11e7-9dde-caa3ba4b020aStrategy 1.1.1Attorney ReferralReinvigorate and make more regular use of the attorney referral network._3bc38dee-56e5-11e7-9dde-caa3ba4b020aStrategy 1.1.2Legal ReferencesModernize, update and promote the SPLC's library of legal reference materials to support more fully the work of volunteer counsel._3bc39136-56e5-11e7-9dde-caa3ba4b020aStrategy 1.1.3Legal ResponsibilitiesUse the latest technological advancements more effectively to educate students of all ethnic, geographic and economic backgrounds, working in all mediums, as to the legal responsibilities that accompany their press freedoms._3bc39244-56e5-11e7-9dde-caa3ba4b020aStrategy 1.1.4DeliveryContinually keep abreast of, adapt to and embrace new technology-assisted ways of delivering information and services. _3bc3933e-56e5-11e7-9dde-caa3ba4b020aStrategy 1.1.5StorytellingTell the story to the public._3bc394b0-56e5-11e7-9dde-caa3ba4b020a1.2The SPLC will bring widespread public attention to the importance of protecting and enhancing students' First Amendment rights, emphasizing the negative impact violations of those rights have not only on the quality of journalism and civic engagement, but also on school accountability and on the freedom of the Internet for users of all ages... EXPECTED OUTCOMES * The SPLC will be widely recognized as the authoritative clearinghouse for information about threats to students’ ability to express themselves and discuss issues of public concern. * The frequency and nature of violations of students' First Amendment rights – and the impact of censorship on students' ability to develop as engaged, participatory citizens - will be better documented and better understood. * The SPLC will build stronger relationships with opinion leaders and the professional news media, and will utilize those relationships to raise the profile of issues affecting students' rights. * The SPLC will have published a book and/or documentary revealing the life-altering consequences of censorship.BaselinesWork with partner organizations to establish a baseline for measuring instances of censorship and other violations of student journalists' legal rights._3bc395be-56e5-11e7-9dde-caa3ba4b020aStrategy 1.2.1Student JournalistsCaptive VoicesLeverage the 40th anniversary of "Captive Voices" to re-create the urgency and awareness that accompanied release of that 1973 censorship._3bc396c2-56e5-11e7-9dde-caa3ba4b020aStrategy 1.2.2Annual Media EventsCreate an annual media event designed to heighten public awareness of the myriad threats facing the student press._3bc397da-56e5-11e7-9dde-caa3ba4b020aStrategy 1.2.3MediaStudent PressMedia, Publications & SpeechesUse media appearances, and publishing and speaking opportunities to heighten public awareness of the SPLC's expertise in high-profile issues of online speech; seek opportunities to engage with niche and specialty media in the education, technology and civil-liberties fields._3bc398f2-56e5-11e7-9dde-caa3ba4b020aStrategy 1.2.4Niche MediaSpecialty MediaLegal ChallengesWork with funders and major research institutions to develop a reliable database of information concerning the legal challenges facing student journalists, with an eye toward dispelling persistent myths and misunderstandings that lead to bad policy._3bc39a00-56e5-11e7-9dde-caa3ba4b020aStrategy 1.2.5Student JournalistsFundersResearch InstitutionsInterviewsCompile print and video interviews with victims of censorship who have suffered life-altering consequences - e.g., those fired from jobs, or suspended from school - and disseminate their stories to the public._3bc39cb2-56e5-11e7-9dde-caa3ba4b020aStrategy 1.2.6Victims of CensorshipFinancial SupportBuild a stronger SPLC._3bc39dc0-56e5-11e7-9dde-caa3ba4b020a1.3The SPLC will secure the financial support to satisfy the increasing needs for its services; the organization will protect and strengthen its endowment fund and will build a diverse donor base of individuals and members of the business and legal communities to augment its traditional base of support from the scholastic journalism community... EXPECTED OUTCOMES * The SPLC will expand its audience and donor base beyond its core constituency. * The SPLC will more effectively use volunteer services toward promoting the cause of student free-press rights. * The SPLC will establish a continually growing e-mail list and member base. * A greater percentage of the SPLC's annual revenues will come from non-foundation donors. * Additional staff will be hired to meet the SPLC's growing responsibilities.Relationships & PartnershipsMaintain strong relationships with the "backbone" scholastic journalism organizations while also entering into new partnerships that can put the SPLC's message and services in front of audiences beyond its core constituency._3bc39fc8-56e5-11e7-9dde-caa3ba4b020aStrategy 1.3.1Scholastic Journalism OrganizationsVolunteersRaise the SPLC's visibility and multiply its impact by creating meaningful and engaging volunteer opportunities for people from the legal, journalism and educational communities, to build a network of active foot soldiers in support of students' First Amendment rights._3bc3a0e0-56e5-11e7-9dde-caa3ba4b020aStrategy 1.3.2Legal CommunityJournalism CommunityEducational CommunityMembership ProcessesStreamline and modernize the individual and group membership processes, and in doing so developing a thorough e-mail contact list._3bc3a1e4-56e5-11e7-9dde-caa3ba4b020aStrategy 1.3.3DonorsCultivate individual donors at all levels, with a special focus on donors who have interests beyond scholastic journalism, by showing the impact of the SPLC's work on concerns of importance to them._3bc3a2d4-56e5-11e7-9dde-caa3ba4b020aStrategy 1.3.4DonorsFundraising & DevelopmentMaintain an active board committee engaged in fundraising and development._3bc3a3e2-56e5-11e7-9dde-caa3ba4b020aStrategy 1.3.5MembershipLaunch an intensive individual membership drive aimed at boosting support from the core audience that should agree with the SPLC's work, including media lawyers and college journalism professors._3bc3a4e6-56e5-11e7-9dde-caa3ba4b020aStrategy 1.3.6Media LawyersCollege Journalism ProfessorsEndowment & Human CapitalLaunch new endowment or human capital campaigns to help the SPLC grow to meet and respond to the challenges faced by its growing constituency. _3bc3a5f4-56e5-11e7-9dde-caa3ba4b020aStrategy 1.3.7 Public PolicyProvide training and opportunities for students to use their voices to influence public policy._3bc3a70c-56e5-11e7-9dde-caa3ba4b020a2Legal LandscapeImprove the legal landscape._3bc3a81a-56e5-11e7-9dde-caa3ba4b020a2.1Pro-actively seek to improve the legal landscape: The SPLC, in addition to providing responsive legal service when called upon, will actively seek to create a healthier legal environment for students to gather information and share ideas... EXPECTED OUTCOMES * Flagrant violations of students' rights will have swift and visible consequences. More states and municipalities will pass laws and ordinances that support the free expression rights of students and those who advise them. * The SPLC will identify and publicize public policies that threaten or impede the rights of student journalists, and will be recognized as a source of authoritative information and guidance to policymakers. * Young people will take greater ownership of, and responsibility for, advancing the state of their own legal rights. *  SPLC-affiliated attorneys will pro-actively litigate more test cases that advance the First Amendment rights of students.LawsMobilize, train and share information among those who care about student journalism to seek positive changes in federal, state and local law._3bc3a914-56e5-11e7-9dde-caa3ba4b020aStrategy 2.1.1Student JournalistsOwnershipDevelop campaigns targeting youth audiences that engage them directly in taking ownership of their rights._3bc3aa4a-56e5-11e7-9dde-caa3ba4b020aStrategy 2.1.1.1YouthConsequencesUse all available tools - e.g., litigation, publicity, reports to accrediting and regulatory agencies - to make sure that flagrant cases of censorship or denials of access are met with consequences._3bc3ab58-56e5-11e7-9dde-caa3ba4b020aStrategy 2.1.2Public PolicyBuild partner relationships within the legal, media, youth activism and civil-rights communities to enhance the SPLC's capability to monitor public-policy developments affecting students' rights, and to make sure that students' interests received due consideration in the policy arena._3bc3ac70-56e5-11e7-9dde-caa3ba4b020aStrategy 2.1.3StudentsLegal CommunityMediaYouth ActivistsCivil-Rights CommunityBriefs, Motions & TopicsDevelop the infrastructure to support fully the work of volunteer outside counsel by collecting sample briefs and motions, compiling legal research on standard topics, and assisting with other information gathering needs._3bc3ad9c-56e5-11e7-9dde-caa3ba4b020aStrategy 2.1.4TrainingFind opportunities to train professors of education, administrators, board members and school attorneys about media law and the educational and social values of a robust student press._3bc3aed2-56e5-11e7-9dde-caa3ba4b020aStrategy 2.1.5Professors of EducationEducational Institution AdministratorsEducational Institution Board MembersSchool AttorneysCases & PrecedentsIdentify and litigate the strongest test cases to build up a body of legal precedent that will discourage future violations of student journalists' rights. _3bc3afea-56e5-11e7-9dde-caa3ba4b020aStrategy 2.1.6Student JournalistsTechnologyEducate the entire education community about the responsible use of technology to share ideas._3bc3b116-56e5-11e7-9dde-caa3ba4b020a3Education CommunityAffirmation & PromotionAffirm the value of a free student press across all media platforms, and promote the use of legal tools to strengthen student journalism._3bc3b242-56e5-11e7-9dde-caa3ba4b020a3.1The SPLC will generate and reward substantive journalistic work that uses legal research tools and skills, and will widely publicize excellent student journalism so judges, policymakers, school officials and the general public appreciate the value of robust and independent student voices... EXPECTED OUTCOMES * The SPLC will be a catalyst for the creation of more substantive journalistic work. *  The SPLC will call wider public attention to examples of influential student journalism. *  Student journalists who are unaffiliated with traditional student media programs will be aware of and benefit from the SPLC's resources.Online PublicationsBroaden and aesthetically improve the SPLC's online publications library to more effectively teach students how to use open-records and open-meetings laws to strengthen their reporting._3bc3b364-56e5-11e7-9dde-caa3ba4b020aStrategy 3.1.1ExemplarsShowcase on the SPLC Web site exemplary works by student journalists who use the SPLC's legal resources._3bc3b4f4-56e5-11e7-9dde-caa3ba4b020aStrategy 3.1.2PartnershipsForge partnerships with scholars to research and document the pedagogic value of a free and independent student press._3bc3b60c-56e5-11e7-9dde-caa3ba4b020aStrategy 3.1.3ScholarsEducational ProgrammingDevelop educational programming that specifically caters to small, entrepreneurial student journalism start-ups, freelancers and bloggers, emphasizing issues that differentially have an impact on them._3bc3b742-56e5-11e7-9dde-caa3ba4b020aStrategy 3.1.4Student Journalism Start-UpsStudent Journalism FreelancersStudent BloggersEditorial ContentPartner with college journalists at the local level to create and distribute original editorial content that uses open records laws and legal research skills._3bc3b878-56e5-11e7-9dde-caa3ba4b020aStrategy 3.1.5College JournalistsEditorial ProjectsBuild a library of in-depth editorial projects from which students can learn._3bc3b9ae-56e5-11e7-9dde-caa3ba4b020aStrategy 3.1.6StudentsDocuments, Meetings & KnowledgeImprove students' access to essential documents and meetings, and teach them to put the knowledge gained to productive use._3bc3baee-56e5-11e7-9dde-caa3ba4b020a4Students_3bc3bc42-56e5-11e7-9dde-caa3ba4b020a2010-01-012015-12-312017-06-21https://s3.amazonaws.com/media.spl/172_strategic_plano.pdfOwenAmburOwen.Ambur@verizon.net