Identity of Speakers
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The Office of Institutional Equity at the University of Missouri
Faculty/Staff
Other
Resources
Additional Information
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Incident Nature:
Student publication
Other
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Incident Political Orientation:
Not Clear -
Incident Responses:
University administration changed university policy as a consequence
Other
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Incident Status:
No litigation
- Did not involve Speech Codes
Summary
In January 2024, the University of Missouri System formally revised its Title IX policy to exempt student journalists from being designated as mandated reporters. Previously, student reporters were required to disclose confidential sources in cases involving sexual assault or discrimination, a mandate that drew strong criticism from press freedom advocates. The Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression (FIRE) and the Student Press Freedom Initiative (SPFI) argued that the policy violated the First Amendment and undermined journalistic integrity by forcing reporters to potentially compromise the trust of their sources.
The push for reform began in 2022, when the university initially pledged to exempt student journalists. However, by late 2023, advocates noted that the exemption had yet to be codified in policy documents, prompting renewed concern and advocacy. In response, the university updated its Title IX FAQs in early 2024 to explicitly state that student journalists are not considered mandated reporters. The update placed them alongside professionals like doctors and lawyers in terms of confidentiality protections, and it clarified that even if a student journalist also holds another campus role—such as a resident assistant—their journalistic activities are still protected.
