The Clypian is the award-winning, student-run news organization of South Salem High School in Salem, Oregon. Founded in 1954, it has become one of the most recognized high school journalism programs in the Pacific Northwest, producing student-led reporting, podcasts, multimedia storytelling, opinion writing, sports coverage, and investigative journalism.
What makes The Clypian stand out is its commitment to authentic student voice and press freedom. Students are responsible for researching, writing, editing, photography, video production, and publishing content that covers both school and community issues. The publication is part of South Salem’s Media Productions and Broadcast Journalism program, which prepares students for careers in journalism, media, film, communications, and digital storytelling.
The program has earned national recognition for excellence in student journalism and First Amendment advocacy. South Salem High School became the first school in Oregon to receive the prestigious First Amendment Press Freedom Award, presented by the Journalism Education Association, National Scholastic Press Association, and Quill & Scroll Society. The award honors schools that actively protect student press rights and allow students to make independent editorial decisions.
The Clypian and its journalists have also received recognition for impactful reporting. Former editor Eddy Binford-Ross earned the 2021 Student Journalist Impact Award from Quill and Scroll for her courageous reporting on protests in Portland, Oregon. National journalism leaders praised her work for informing both local readers and audiences across the country during a historic moment.
Today, The Clypian continues to serve as a platform for student voices, combining journalism, storytelling, and multimedia production to inform and engage its community while upholding the values of independent student media.
