Insights

Kirkwood High School journalist stories make an impact

Observations lead to this ‘Making a Difference’ recognition by Hillary DeVoss Sometimes, student journalists write a story so impactful it captures the attention of an entire city. That was certainly the case when Kirkwood Call student editors Thomas Birmingham, Logan Crews and Jack Rintoul acted on their observations, as well as those from other students at Kirkwood…

Insights

Journalistic responsibility goes hand-in-hand with news literacy

by John Bowen, MJE, Kent State University Looking at Facebook over the weekend, I noticed two posts in particular. Both dealt with issues concerning science. Both raised questions involving news literacy and journalistic responsibility. Both received a good number of comments, from all viewpoints. One, a meme, focused on listening to those with whom you disagree….

Insights

Is it time to review staff policies on covering whistleblowers, using anonymous sources?

by Susan McNulty, CJE The Stampede and The Hoofbeat adviser J.W. Mitchell High School, Trinity, Florida On July 25, U.S. President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky talked by phone, and this call set off what is now an impeachment investigation into the U.S president by Congress. An anonymous whistleblower filed a complaint with…

Insights

Shared anecdotes can help New Voices legislation

by Candace Bowen, MJE Just how bad is the censorship that goes on in today’s student media? Could it be, as one administrator said – and perhaps more have thought – advisers just making mountains out of mole hills? And what about self-censorship? One principal said, with perfect confidence, “How can you blame us if…

Insights

We must trust students’ final decisions of content and not take final approval away from them

As advisers we must advise. We question, we discuss, we coach, we cheer. We draw from our experiences and perspectives to shed light on viewpoints young journalists may not have considered. We establish protocols based on best practices, but we also must trust. by Lindsay Coppens – The Harbinger AdviserAlgonquin Regional High School, Northborough, Mass. Do…

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Upgrade in Virginia student publication policy downgrades student free expression

by John Bowen, MJE High school journalists in Virginia’s Frederick County recently had their student publications policies upgraded by the school board, the Student Press Law Center reported. Student journalists say they don’t think much of the changes. “The newspaper was already censored multiple times last year, and the staff has dwindled from about 30 students a year…

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Latest podcast of Conversations at the Schoolhouse Gate focuses on hate speech

by Kristin Taylor Tripp Robbins just hosted the latest episode of Conversations at the Schoolhouse Gate (if you have subscribed to it, you already know this!). I recommend checking it out. You can listen directly from your laptop at the podcast website or subscribe via Apple podcasts or Stitcher to download it to your phone. It’s a…

Insights

It’s not rocket science to proactively demonstrate strong quality, integrity, ethics

by Stan Zoller, MJE As historic events surrounding President Donald Trump continue to unfold, it’s possible, if not likely, his ongoing disdain for and ensuing attacks on the media will reach a more feverish pitch than what has been seen so far during his first term. While it’s likely, albeit hopeful, that student journalists will…

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Ask, do not assume, to build trust between students and administrators

by Lindsay Coppens, The Harbinger Adviser Algonquin Regional High School, Northborough, Mass. Building trust between student editors and school administrators goes a long way toward having a good year and a publication where students are empowered. Yes, part of scholastic journalists’ role is to question those in power and the decisions they make, and it’s…

Insights

Journalism and activism: Is there still a line that separates them?

(WARNING: I buried the lead…at least for some of you.) by Candace Bowen, MJE Following the 2018 March for Our Lives in Washington, D.C. and less than two months after the Parkland shootings, CNN’s “Reliable Sources” host Brian Stelter asked one of the school newspaper’s editors if she saw “a difference right now between journalism and…

Insights

Conversations at the Schoolhouse Gate Podcast: Real benefits without review

The latest episode of the SPRC podcast Conversations at the Schoolhouse Gate is posted. Episode 6: Real benefits without review and restraintinterview with Archer School for Girls administrator Gretchen Warner and student editor Anna Brodsky. Subscribe to the podcast through iTunes or Stitcher or listen directly from this website. After defining the terms “prior review,” “prior restraint” and…

Insights

Be a leader in Year of the Student Journalist

by John Bowen, MJE Hazelwood v. Kuhlmeier contributes to people’s inability to trust journalists since much of what today’s society grew up with as journalism appeared in student media. There, journalists often battled censorship, prior review or intimidation. When that’s what the media carried – incomplete information that conveniently omitted unfavorable details or saw entertainment…