Philadelphia Inquirer reporter Emily Bloch to keynote free press workshop

FIRE’s Student Press Freedom Initiative is thrilled to announce that journalist Emily Bloch will join us as the keynote speaker at our second annual Free Press Workshop on June 17.

Bloch is a multimedia journalist at the Philadelphia Inquirer covering national news. She also serves as a director at-large for the national board of the Society of Professional Journalists, where she supports the organization’s Race and Gender Hotline. She has previously written for a variety of other publications, such as the Florida Times-Union, Teen Vogue, Cosmopolitan, South Florida Gay News, and the Sun Sentinel. 

The Free Press Workshop brings together student journalists from across the country to learn about the First Amendment, media law, and how to use the law as a tool for reporting. Bloch started her journalism career as a student journalist at Florida Atlantic University, where she led the university’s first student newspaper, the University Press. This experience gives her a wealth of relevant insight to share with today’s student reporters. 

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FIRE’s Student Press Freedom Initiative defends free press on campus by advocating for the rights of college student journalists across the country.

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The upcoming SPFI conference won’t be the first time Bloch and FIRE have teamed up. In September 2019, FIRE worked with Bloch in her capacity as then-president of Society of Professional Journalists Florida Pro Chapter to advocate for the rights of student journalists at Florida International University’s PantherNOW when administrators cut the paper’s press credentials for football games following a story criticizing one of the team’s players. 

Bloch’s stories often focus on internet culture, youth, and the ways these subjects intersect with politics and diversity: Her writing frames national stories in relation to the interests of the Philadelphia community. 

Bloch’s journey from student journalist to reporter at one of the nation’s top newsrooms and her professional experiences along the way will bring an exciting perspective to the Free Press Workshop. 

We still have a handful of spots available for student journalists who want to hear from Bloch, meet other student reporters from across the country, and learn about using the law as a tool for reporting. This conference is free for accepted students and includes meals and a $350 travel stipend, and additional travel scholarships are available by application. 

We can’t wait to hear what Bloch teaches the next generation of reporters and to see you in Philadelphia this summer. 

FIRE defends the rights of students and faculty members — no matter their views — at public and private universities and colleges in the United States. If you are a student or a faculty member facing investigation or punishment for your speech, submit your case to FIRE today. If you’re a faculty member at a public college or university, call the Faculty Legal Defense Fund 24-hour hotline at 254-500-FLDF (3533). If you’re a college journalist facing censorship or a media law question, call the Student Press Freedom Initiative 24-hour hotline at 717-734-SPFI (7734).