Another delayed posting of recent media coverage

Well, I was supposed to put these links up last week, but since I am busy looking for a new job, I just didn't get around to it...but here you go.

The first link/excerpt is from an editorial piece published in the Ocean County Observer on Nov. 12, 2006.

Students educate OCC on free press
Posted by the Ocean County Observer on 11/12/06

There are achievements of many kinds at Ocean County College, not the least among them more awards coming to the "mouse that roared," the student newspaper that is still embroiled in a First Amendment battle with the administration.

The Viking News is the David in this battle with Goliath and, as far as we can determine, the paper is as feisty and independent a voice on the campus as it has ever been.

That is the course its editors have charted, one advisor Karen Bosley helped them follow.

Read full story.

And here is a news story published in the Nov. 9, 2006, issue of the Ocean County Observer about the awards won by Prof. Bosley and the Viking News staff previously mentioned here at Boz Watch.

OCC newspaper, embattled adviser win national awards
Posted by the Ocean County Observer on 11/9/06

BY DON BENNETT
STAFF WRITER

TOMS RIVER — The Viking News — the student-run newspaper at Ocean County College — and its longtime adviser have been recognized with prestigious awards for their free press battle with the college administration.

Adviser Karen Bosley, who had to go to court to keep that job after the OCC administration decided to replace her, received the 2006 Louis E. Ingelhart First Amendment Award from College Media Advisers Inc., a group that had been highly critical of Bosley's ouster.

She was recognized for her work as an educator to "defend the First Amendment rights of student journalists."

Read full story.

Bosley, Viking News receive awards in St. Louis

While the St. Louis Cardinals were parading around with the 2006 World Series trophy Sunday, Karen Bosley and the Viking News picking up some hardware of their own in the Gateway City.

Bosley received the 2006 Louis E. Ingelhart First Amendment Award recognizing educators who defend the First Amendment rights of student journalists. The award, which is conferred annually by College Media Advisers, Inc., was formally announced at the Associated Collegiate Press/College Media Advisers-sponsored National College Media Convention in St. Louis, Oct. 29.

Meanwhile, the Viking News earned the 2006 College Press Freedom Award. Sponsored by the Student Press Law Center, the award is given each year to a college student-journalist or student news organization that has demonstrated outstanding support for the free press rights of America's college student media.

Three editors at the Viking News filed a lawsuit in May against college President Jon Larson and several other administrators after the school removed longtime newspaper adviser Karen Bosley. The lawsuit alleges that Bosley’s removal was the result of retaliation for several stories the newspaper wrote critical of the school’s administration.

In July, a federal district court judge issued a preliminary injunction that ordered school officials to reinstate Bosley as adviser while the lawsuit continues.

"Thanks to the Viking News' perseverance and commitment, their adviser — who for more than three decades has put her neck on the chopping block to stand up for her students — is back in the newsroom today," SPLC Legal Consultant Mike Hiestand told the gathering of college student journalists and advisers from across the country.

"Student media advisers everywhere can breathe at least a little bit easier thanks to the precedent their case has established," Hiestand said.

Read the full text of the SPLC's College Press Freedom Award press release.

To read the text of the Louis E. Ingelhart First Amendment Award press release, right-click or ctrl+click on the images below and open the image in a new window or tab. If you click regularly, you may need to sign in to Flickr or Yahoo to view the full-size image.

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(National College Media Convention graphic from CollegeMedia.org)