The Latest – Page 27

FAPFA reminder

by John Bowen, MJE It’s never too late to recognize or reaffirm the importance of First Amendment practices and policies – and be recognized for it – by applying for this year’s FAPFA award. Until Dec. 15, that is. This First Amendment Press Freedom Award recognizes high schools that actively support, teach and protect First Amendment rights and…

Responsibility in scholastic media starts with
ethics, accuracy, complete story QT23

Administrators may want student media that depicts the school in a positive light, that promotes good news and overlooks the negative. Is this responsible journalism? Advisers may want student media that reflects students’ technical proficiency such as mechanics, grammar and style. Little else matters. Is this responsible journalism? Students may want to preserve tradition, give…

As ETHS administrators tighten the grip,
they may want to heed pastoral advice

by Stan Zoller, MJE I had the opportunity to attend an event that was simply called “We the People: Making Our Voices Heard.” It featured an “advocacy resource fair” followed by presentations addressing the “State of Our Democracy.” The first speaker hit the nail on the head about the event’s importance. “We are doing what…

Empowering student decision-making QT22

The role of the adviser in student-run media incorporates teacher, coach, counselor, listener and devil’s advocate but not doer. We like the JEA Adviser Code of Ethics as guides for advisers. That role means letting students make all decisions including content, context and grammar. One way advisers can help this process is by having a…

Student news media fulfill growing need:
covering local news no one else does

by Cyndi Hyatt Student newspapers – the new papers of record? Nearly 350 teachers wearing white T-shirts, chanting slogans and holding signs calling for a fair contract lined the front of the high school before the September school board meeting. Philadelphia’s television news vans were there: Action News, Fox 29, CBS 10. And so was…

How can my school get involved
in the New Voices campaign? QT21

Almost a quarter of all states have now passed legislation protecting voice in student media, and instilling the virtues of the First Amendment as state statute for student media. North Dakota’s success in 2015 seemed to spark the latest fire that has seen legislative recognition of student speech in Illinois, Maryland, Vermont and Rhode Island….

History should not repeat itself

by Stan Zoller On Nov. 9, as is the case every year, there will be an observance of Kristallnacht. Historically, Kristallnacht, often referred to as the Night of Broken Glass, was a 24-hour period, from Nov. 9 to Nov. 10, 1938, when Adolph Hitler ordered troops to ransack the homes and businesses of Jews in…

Disturbing images: public’s right to know
vs. invasion of privacy QT18

A 9-year-old girl, burning from napalm, runs naked down a Vietnam road. A vulture watches a Sudanese child, emaciated from famine, crawl across the ground. Two yellow-clad health workers carry a limp 8-year-old boy who might be infected with Ebola to a treatment facility. What do these images have in common? They are all extremely…

What we learn by covering tragedy

by Lori Keekley When I first signed up for this week’s blog, I was excited to write because it’s Banned Books Week. However, I scrapped that plan Monday when I learned about the shootings in Las Vegas. So, instead of my original plan of blogging about overt censorship, I’m working to help students learn to…

Covering controversy QT17

Journalism is not public relations. Although some administrators would like for students to only publish “positive” stories, a journalist’s job is to watch and report on the school. This may involve students including stories that might make the school “look bad.” When students cover stories, such as a drastic dip in standardized test scores, the…

The importance of staff editorials QT16

Student editors are busy. In addition to leading their staffs, making publication decisions and helping reporters, they are likely also still reporting and creating their own news content — not to mention carrying a full academic high school load. Given all of these responsibilities, it’s easy to see why writing an unsigned staff editorial might…

Who should be on student media editorial boards, make decisions? QT15

Because student media are productions of student work, only students should be on editorial boards of student media. That would include the general manager and producers of broadcast media. Generally, student editors make up editorial boards. Some may have student staffers attend and vote if so desired. Editorial board meetings can normally be open to…