Student journalists win reprieve. Wake won’t cut off school newspaper website.
Wake County has backed off for one year from its plan to shut off access to a popular website used by several high schools to publish student newspapers.
Student journalists from multiple high schools spoke at Tuesday’s school board meeting against the district’s decision to stop them from using SNO Sites after June 30. The district cited the student comments in giving a one-year extension for use of SNO to host student newspapers.
“In light of recent student input, WCPSS has decided to extend the use of SNO for an additional year while we conduct a comprehensive re-evaluation of security measures,” Wake said in a statement. “We deeply value student voices and recognize that their perspectives are critical in shaping educational experiences and digital tool selections.
“This extension allows us to thoroughly address security concerns, collaborate with all stakeholders, and ensure the best outcomes for our students and schools.”
The decision was a victory for students like Caroline Rhoad, a junior at Wakefied High School in Raleigh, who spoke at the board meeting on Tuesday. Rhoad is sports editor of The Howler, the student newspaper at Wakefield.
“We are happy to see that our voices had power,” Rhoad said in an email Thursday to The News & Observer. “I think a lot of us were unsure as to if anyone at Wake County would hear us out and make a change.”
Fight to ‘protect student journalism’
SNO, which stands for School Newspapers Online, is used by college students as well as 2,700 K-12 schools around the country, according to Tom Hutchinson, co-founder of SNO. The company lists 38 North Carolina schools as customers, including nine high schools in the Wake County school system.
In addition to hosting the newspapers and providing tech support, SNO provides curriculum, mentoring, coaching support and an awards program.
Citing concerns that private student data could be accessed on the SNO website, Wake told schools they’d discontinue access at the end of the school year. Wake had suggested alternatives, but the students said those options wouldn’t meet their needs.
Students created a “Protect Student Journalism in Wake County” online petition that has received more than 1,000 signatures. Students made speeches at Tuesday’s meeting that impressed several school board members.
Fight to keep SNO access not over
Nora Richards, a senior at Athens Drive High School in Raleigh and co-editor-in-chief of The Athens Oracle, said the speakers on Tuesday “proved that student journalism is worth the fight.”
“The board was very understanding and most of them seemed interested in our cause,” Richards said in an email Thursday. “I was surprised that the board decided to grant us SNO access so quickly after the meeting, but I’m not surprised that our speeches worked.”
But Richards and Rhoad, the Wakefield student, raised concerns about how the victory might only be temporary.
“I do wish that the board had given us more than one additional year of SNO, because now it’s clear that next year’s journalists might have to fight for the same cause,” Richards said. “But with the success we had this year, I’m confident that next year’s leaders can overcome this challenge, too.”
Rhoad said students should have eternal access to SNO.
“ We are happy with this victory, but are aware that the fight is not over until we know that we will have access to SNO for as long as our newspaper runs,” Rhoad said. “I am thankful to get to have it next year, but am ready to continue to advocate for it.”
This story was originally published April 10, 2025 at 3:08 PM.
