Insights

Insights

Yes Virginia, journalism still exists

by Stan Zoller, MJE More than a few years ago, I saw a sign on a colleague’s desk that read: “Tact:  Being able to tell someone where to go in such a way that they actually look forward to the trip.” Heeding that advice, I’ve become a hell of a travel agent.  Case in point. I…

Insights

Silently, heavily, even if optional, prior review and restraint contribute to a crumbling democracy

  by Lindsay Coppens The Harbinger adviser, Algonquin Regional High School, Northborough, Mass. A few weeks ago there was widespread reaction when news broke that the National Archives in Washington D.C. had blurred anti-Trump protest signs in a photograph from the 2017 Women’s March. Yesterday, The Washington Post reported a similar mural-sized image had been…

Insights

Building on Student Press Freedom Day

A time for reflection on and commitment to journalistically responsible student media Jan. 29, Student Press Freedom Day, is a good time to reflect on the importance of a unfettered student media, especially given the country’s claimed mistrust of and attacks on the media. Commit to informing your various communities now, and throughout the next…

Insights

Use real situations to teach law and ethics

  by Candace Bowen, MJE Teaching student journalists about legal and ethical issues can be a challenge. Some of my pre-service teachers at Kent State always want student groups to research different law cases and then present their findings to the class, possibility re-enact the trial. Others want teacher lectures, a process that takes at…

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Conversations at the Schoolhouse Gate

Episode 9: Photojournalism during school The latest episode of the SPRC podcast Conversations at the Schoolhouse Gate focuses on setting the scene and then interviewing students and their adviser at Palo Alto High School. Students dealt with authorities trying to block them from taking photos when a police officer was injured on campus. You can…

Insights

Teaching students to fact-check themselves and others, Facebook and fact checking

by Susan McNulty, CJE The Stampede and The Hoofbeat adviserJ.W. Mitchell High School, Trinity, Florida Thursday, Jan. 9, Facebook announced in a blog post found here their platform will soon allow users to opt out of certain political and social issue advertisements.  This decision came in response to demands for Facebook to fact check ads before approving…

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Ethics codes are important, should not enable punishments of students or advisers

Lindsay CoppensThe Harbinger adviserAlgonquin Regional High School, Northborough, Mass.  Adopting a code of ethics can be an excellent way to promote ethical discussion and decision making in a scholastic publication. There are many ethics codes such as the Society of Professional Journalists Code of Ethics and National Scholastic Press Association Model Code of Ethics for…

Insights

Help administrators know what N.V. (New Voices Law) means

by Stan Zoller, MJE When you see the letters “N.V.” in the context of scholastic journalism, you hopefully realize they refer to “New Voices” legislation that 14 states have passed so scholastic journalists can practice free and responsible journalism without concerns.  Or dare I say, fear of prior review, prior restraint or censorship. Unfortunately, there…

Insights

Interviewing minors about sensitive topics proves controversial

by Susan McNulty, CJE The Stampede and The Hoofbeat adviser J.W. Mitchell High School, Trinity, Florida In 2017, my journalism students included coverage in the yearbook about ­­­­­­­­­­­online harassment. They interviewed two students and quoted them by name. The next year, editors wrote and included a story about anorexia, this time using anonymous sources. In…

Insights

Podcast: Importance of passing New Voices legislation

by Kristin Taylor, CJE We hope you will check out and share the latest episode of the SPRC podcast Conversations at the Schoolhouse Gate. I’ve pasted the episode notes below. Please subscribe, rate and review! It makes a huge difference to getting the podcast out there. In case you aren’t subscribed on iTunes/Apple podcasts or…

Insights

Making a Difference stories

The story dispelled rumors, confirmed facts by Hillary deVoss A teacher’s death can send shockwaves throughout a school community, leading to panic, confusion and rumors. To student journalists at duPont Manual High School in Louisville, Ky., a beloved teacher’s unexpected death was a call for them to respond to a crisis – and do so…

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Lessons from Northwestern U’s student edit open learning paths

by Candace Bowen, MJE Student journalism – at least at the collegiate level – hit the news big time last week and received plenty of criticism — both for what was covered and for an apology for covering the story. However, as the newspaper’s editor said in a tweet later, “Our statement addressed some legitimate…

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