Senator Heitkamp Talks With Journalism Students & New Voices Act Advocates

Posted By: Steve Urness
November 25, 2015 @ 4:31 pm
News

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CITY, N.D. (NewsDakota.com) North Dakota Senator Heidi Heitkamp met with supporters of the John Wall New Voices Act of North Dakota (HB 1471) at Valley City State University on Tuesday, November 24.

The John Wall New Voices Act protects high school and college student journalists from school district or university administrator’s censorship.

Since the bill passed the North Dakota House and Senate unanimously and was signed in to law in April 2015, advocates in more than 20 states have been working to replicate North Dakota’s legislation.

The event was organized by Steven Listopad, the assistant professor and director of student media at VCSU. Listopad received a Hugh M. Hefner First Amendment Award at a reception on September 29 at the Playboy Mansion in California in recognition of his efforts in support of the John Wall New Voices Act.

The event was organized by VCSU, Steven Listopad the assistant professor and director of student media. — The event was organized by Steven Listopad, the assistant professor and director of student media at VCSU.

More than 20 New Voices supporters and Senator Heitkamp participated in a video conference gathering on November 24 on the Valley City State University Campus.

North Dakota Senator Heidi Heitkamp. Photos by Steve Urness.

Heitkamp congratulated the New Voices Act supporters and offering her support and insight into maneuvering through Congressional channels for federal legislative action.

Assistant editor of the Jamestown Sun, Masaki Ova was one of the original student authors of the New Voices Act. He talked about the path taken to get this Act passed in North Dakota.

The New Voices Act is named in honor of the late John Wall, a high school teacher and North Dakota legislator who died in 2014. Wall, a 1970 VCSU alumnus, served five terms in the North Dakota House following retirement after 34 years teaching English and journalism at Wahpeton (N.D.) High School and Sargent Central High School in Foreman, N.D.