Since 1974, the Student Press Law Center has been the nation's only legal assistance agency devoted exclusively to educating high school and college journalists about the rights and responsibilities embodied in the First Amendment and supporting the student news media in their struggle to cover important issues free from censorship. The Center provides free legal advice and information as well as low-cost educational materials for student journalists on a wide variety of legal topics. In addition, the SPLC operates a formal Attorney Referral Network of approximately 150 lawyers across the country who are available to provide free legal representation to local students when necessary. Approximately 2,000 student journalists, teachers and others contact the Center each year for help or information. Calls come from all 50 states and the District of Columbia.The SPLC is a nonprofit, non-partisan 501(c)(3) corporation. The Center is headquartered in Arlington, Va, where it shares a suite of offices with the Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press. The organization is run by an executive director and a corporate board of directors composed primarily of journalism educators, professional journalists and attorneys. Among those organizations that have seats on the Center's board are the Society of Professional Journalists, the Journalism Education Association, the Associated Collegiate Press, the National Scholastic Press Association and the Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press. Approximately one-half of the SPLC's budget comes in the form of donations from student journalists and teachers. The remaining money comes from various foundations, corporations and individuals interested in First Amendment education.