Santa Ana College: Student Journalists Stifled from Speaking Directly to Sources

In Fall 2025, el Don News student reporter Sharon Tam emailed Santa Ana College Director of Special Programs Dr. Brenda Estrada for comment about services and staffing at the school’s Veterans Resource Center after federal funding cuts, prompting college officials to review protocols for responding to media requests. In emails obtained by el Don in a public records request, Estrada stated officials would review questions sent to staff before responses could be sent. Concurrently, student journalists reported to FIRE’s Student Press Freedom Initiative that school administrators work to prevent staff from speaking with student media and require student reporters to submit interview questions in advance via email. On March 30, 2026, FIRE wrote SAC, reminding the school that student journalists must be free from prior review and prior restraint, and faculty must be free to speak to the media.