The Dos Pueblos High School Media Program received the 2026 First Amendment Press Freedom Award on Thursday, Feb. 26, recognizing the program’s use of First Amendment rights by students and teachers within student-run media, maintaining a fully student-led operation.
“This one was extra special,” Principal Bill Woodard said. “Seeing our programs being honored with this award is really about all of our programs together and the way we approach journalism, versus an individual program.”
DPHS was one of 26 high schools selected across 12 states and the United Kingdom that were recognized for actively supporting and protecting the First Amendment rights of students and staff through student-run media, “where students make all final decisions of content through policies and practice.”
The media program includes The Charger Account, DPNews, and The Image, DPHS’s yearbook. Each program provides students with opportunities to report on topics affecting the DPHS campus and the surrounding community. Through these platforms, students are able to practice ethical reporting and exercise the freedoms guaranteed by the First Amendment.
“We don’t limit what they write about, and we don’t limit what they say in their editorials,” Woodard said. “We want to ground them in journalism ethics so that when they do that, they can see they’re going to get it from all sides.”
Schools globally applied for the award by filling out questionnaires completed by an advisor and at least one student editor. If they advanced to the second round, schools then submitted responses from an administrator, media advisors, and student editors from each publication.
“I had to write a response about why I believe student journalists should be in charge of publishing and what the First Amendment means to us here at DP,” Woodard said. “I’m thinking when they got all of the different responses from our different people, it showed that we all really believe this.”
The award is co-adjudicated by the Journalism Education Association (JEA), National Scholastic Press Association (NSPA), and Quill and Scroll International Honorary Society. DPHS will be honored with this award on April 16 as part of the Spring JEA/NSPA National High School Journalism Convention in Minneapolis.
