Orange and Black Newspaper advisor Steve Fox is currently facing reassignment by administration, raising questions about adviser independence, student press freedom, and the balance between administration and student media at Grand Junction High School.
This transition, which moves Fox into an English and yearbook role, is more than a routine staffing decision. It comes after a period where O&B has published content that challenged expectations and addressed issues that were not always comfortable for the school. Fox has been the adviser of the O&B for 5 years which started in the beginning of 2021-2026. Fox also has a past of working as a news reporter for 15 years. He is also the current advisor of Colorado Mesa University (CMU) newspaper named The Criterion.
Under Fox’s leadership, O&B expanded beyond typical school coverage and took on more serious topics. One example includes an opinion piece by graduate Alek Purser discussing Gaza and Palestine. The article presented a structured argument supported by cited information, but it also led to strong backlash. Communication surrounding the piece escalated beyond typical disagreement, including personal criticism and challenges to the credibility of the work. This situation shows how quickly student journalism can become controversial when it covers political or global issues.
Other content has also created tension. In a previous issue, a publication cover featuring a large group of students drew administrative concern after a visible detail in the image led to increased expectations for oversight. In another case, reporting by another graduate Eli Schultz on a lawsuit brought attention to legal issues that are not typically covered in school media. These examples reflect a pattern of O&B publishing content that goes beyond surface-level reporting.
There have also been discussions about changing O&B into a newsletter-style publication. Such a shift would significantly limit the depth and scope of what student journalists can produce, moving away from a full newspaper format and reducing opportunities for investigative or critical reporting.
Fox’s role in these situations is important. As an advisor, he supported students in producing content that stayed within legal boundaries, even when that content was controversial. He treated O&B as a real newsroom, where students are responsible for their work and editorial decisions.
That is why this reassignment raises concern. When an advisor who supports that level of independence is moved out of the program, it can directly affect what kind of content is published moving forward.
The potential impact on O&B is clear. A new adviser without the same level of journalism-specific experience may take a more cautious approach. This could result in fewer controversial topics being published, increased oversight, and a shift toward safer content that avoids conflict.
This concern is supported by student journalism law. The Student Press Law Center, a national organization that provides legal support for student journalists, explains that student media is protected under the First Amendment and state-level laws. In Colorado, those protections include specific safeguards for student media advisers.
Colorado law states:
“A public school employee must not be dismissed, suspended, disciplined, reassigned, transferred, or otherwise retaliated against solely for acting to protect a student engaged in the conduct authorized pursuant to this section or for refusing to infringe upon conduct that is protected by this section or the First Amendment to the United States Constitution (C.R.S. § 22-1-120(6)).”
This provision exists because advisors are often more vulnerable than students when conflicts arise over published content. It reinforces the idea that advisers play a critical role in protecting student journalism.
A similar situation occurred at Lowell High School in California, where a court ruled that a school district violated student press protections when it reassigned a journalism adviser following controversy tied to student reporting. The case demonstrated that administrative decisions connected to student media content can have legal implications.
While the exact reasons behind Fox’s reassignment have not been publicly detailed, the timing and context raise important questions. When a publication produces content that creates tension, and changes in leadership follow, it is reasonable to examine whether those events are connected.
O&B has shown that it is capable of real journalism. It has taken on difficult topics, addressed meaningful issues, and provided a platform for student voices. That kind of work depends on an adviser who understands both the responsibility and the protections involved.
As someone who has worked within O&B, that support is not abstract. It directly impacts the ability to grow as a writer, take on leadership, and produce meaningful work. Without that foundation, the publication itself changes.
Student journalism law is clear: students control content, advisers support and guide, and schools must respect legal boundaries in how they interact with student media. When that balance is disrupted or unclear, it raises important questions about how student journalism is supported, not just in principle, but in practice — especially when leadership changes follow moments where student reporting pushes beyond what is comfortable.
Editor’s Note: Orange and Black Newspaper alumni Miah Hines, Marie Calkins and Lila Mottram contributed to the article. Advisor Steve Fox was not apart of helping or creating this editorial.
