Who is in charge of Can I Publish This?

Can I Publish This is a project of the Student Press Freedom Initiative (SPFI), brought to you by the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression, a non-profit, non-partisan organization dedicated to defending student and faculty rights and civil liberties on college and university campuses across the United States. This includes your right to freedom of the press.

Does the content on Can I Publish This constitute legal advice?

No. While lawyers and law students contributed to this resource, nothing on this website should be taken to constitute legal advice or to mean that you have formed an attorney-client relationship with FIRE. The general guidance here should not—and cannot—replace the effective advice of an attorney who can evaluate the nuances of your specific situation.

If you believe your student publication is facing legal issues or censorship, please contact FIRE's Student Press Freedom Initiative, as we may be able to provide you with a variety of advocacy services, including writing letters to the institution, issuing press releases, sharing your story with media outlets, or connecting you with outside legal counsel. However, FIRE will only offer direct legal representation in a very narrow range of cases.

I’m facing legal issues related to the content of my student publication. Where can I get help?

If you’re a college student and think you may be facing potential legal challenges related to the content of your student publication, please contact FIRE's Student Press Freedom Initiative either by filling out our case submission form or, especially if your issue is urgent, by calling our 24/7 Student Press Legal Hotline at 717-734-SPFI (7734). If we can’t help you directly, we will do our best to point you toward a resource or another organization that can.

FIRE’s advocacy mission is limited to working with college students and faculty, but if you’re a high school journalist and have legal questions, we recommend getting in touch with the Student Press Law Center through their online legal hotline.

My publication is facing content-related pressures from our administration. Can you help?

If your college or university administration is pressuring your student publication in relation to content, FIRE may be able to help. Please contact FIRE's Student Press Freedom Initiative either by filling out our case submission form or, especially if your issue is urgent, by calling our 24/7 Student Press Legal Hotline at 717-734-SPFI (7734).

FIRE’s advocacy mission is limited to working with college students and faculty, but if you’re a high school journalist facing pressure on the content of your student publication, we recommend getting in touch with the Student Press Law Center through their online legal hotline.

I’d like to learn more about something I read on Can I Publish This. Where can I get more information?

Please see the resources page!

I have a question that isn’t answered here.

All the more reason to get in touch with us. Learn more about the Student Press Freedom Initiative and FIRE.