"Freedom of the press is not just important, it is imperative for a functioning democracy.” President John F. Kennedy is not alone in this narrative. The importance of a free independent press is woven into the groundwork of this country. This year on Student Press Freedom Day, as trust in traditional media is at an all time low, affirming a commitment to accurate, independent journalism is of the utmost importance. Feb. 27 marks the 8th annual Student Press Freedom Day, a celebration of the work student journalists do and their contributions to their communities, as well as a day intended to raise awareness for the challenges they face as they work to protect First Amendment Rights. Read the full letter from the editors on The Collegian website, linked in our bio. Written by Hannah Parcell & Allie Seibel Photo by Ava Puglisi #collegianopinion #csucollegian #StudentPressFreedomDay #studentmedia #rockymountaincollegian #rmsmc