When a fight between an 18-year-old and a 17-year-old broke out in a high school cafeteria, the news spread like wildfire throughout the school. After a teacher was involved, resulting in a head wound, both students were charged with assault. A short story was posted on their website the next day. Before the journalist posted the story, he was told he was not allowed to use the name of the 17-year-old in the story because he was a minor. The journalist then contacted SPLC (Student Press Law Center) for more guidance on what to do.

In 1979, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that the First Amendment protects journalists who use the names of minors in "newsworthy" stories as long as what they are publishing is truthful and lawfully obtained. Other courts have ruled that the First Amendment protects journalists who use the names of minors in articles in circumstances like these:

A minor is charged with unauthorized use of a motor vehicle and hit-and-run driving, the name of a 7-year old boy who was brutally beaten, the name of a high school student viciously attacked by his classmates at school, the name and photograph of a 12-year-old who was charged with the attempted murder of a police officer as well as many more so-called "newsworthy" stories like these.

Picture retrieved from:  The Punniest Newspaper Headlines of 2019


In my opinion, I feel like this comes down to morals. As a minor, your parents make most of your decisions for you. For example, if a minor is involved in a beating and the parents of that minor do not want their name published for personal reasons, I feel as though their wish should be honored. As an adult, many things change. You become capable of making many life-changing decisions, but you can also be arrested and go to jail.Your parents are no longer responsible for you. In cases involving adults, I feel like their name should be able to be used in articles without permission.

I also feel as though it is not morally correct to release the name of a twelve-year-old who was charged with attempted murder, without the permission from the parents. To me, it doesn't matter how "newsworthy" or terrible the crime is. This is a child. Journalists should be able to accept and honor the parents' wishes.

Picture retrieved from:  Bill on children’s rights to be brought before Majlis: MP





Article:                     Naming names: Identifying minors