CORONADO, Calif. (KGTV) -- Coronado Middle School journalism students are protesting alleged censorship after, they say, they were forced to cancel a news segment in their student broadcast called “In the News”. The segment covers national and international headlines.
Students made the announcement in their newscast on Friday. The kids, afraid to speak on camera, told 10News they were forced to make the changes after a broadcast where they mentioned sexual misconduct allegations, amongst people of power, making national headlines.
Several parents told 10News they're outraged and concerned that the alleged censorship comes at a time when the media is already under fire.
The school principal, Karin Mellina, sent 10News the following statement via email:
“At Coronado Middle School, we are committed to providing age and grade-level appropriate news content to our 735 sixth - eighth graders through our school news outlet, KCMS.
Defining age and grade-level appropriate news content involves an ongoing dialogue that we, staff and students, are invested in.”
Parents think the censorship violates the student’s first amendment. They want the segment back in the broadcast.
They’re hoping to come to an agreement with the school. If not, they tell 10News, they plan on taking the issue to the school board.
