The Latest Archives

Prior review: The first step
toward censorship QT8

In brief, the Journalism Education Association has found prior review has no educational value. Instead, JEA believes it is simply the first step toward censorship and fake news. Prior review also contributes to self-censorship and lack of trust between students, advisers and administrators. Prior review conflicts with JEA’s adviser code of ethics. Prior review occurs…

The role of the adviser is multifold, but ethically, practically, not a doer QT20

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…

Tools of Truth: all lessons

All Tools of Truth lessons are listed, annotated here Sloppy reporting Journalists as professional skeptics (2-part) The first lesson explores ethical decision-making about what to publish and the importance of verification in that process. It is a case study that puts students in the role of an editor as they walk through a hypothetical story…

Student media policy may be
the most important decision you make QT4

Guideline Students should understand while they can and should adopt best legal practices and ethical guidelines for their publication, the school district’s or school board’s media policy (if one exists) could impact the legal and ethical decisions of student editors. Key thoughts/Action: Possible guidelines (three options) This reality does not preclude students from exercising their…

Some censorship makes ‘no cents’

by Stan Zoller, MJE During his first inaugural address, Franklin Delano Roosevelt famously said that “the only thing we have to fear, is fear itself.” For media advisers, that fear is likely to be administrative censorship. Perhaps a bigger fear, however, is the threat of ‘economic censorship,’ where student media is threatened with a curtailment…

Satire lessons

Satire • Satire is hard Students are funny. Students are smart. But are they smart enough to be funny with satire in a way that advances the journalistic goals of the publication? Can they do it without violating the SPJ ethical guidelines or their own publications’ ethical guidelines? Use this lesson to help students understand…

Sloppy news reporting lessons

In the era of the fight against fake news, we believe journalists must be aware of the social climate surrounding the work they do. The attacks and delegitimization of the news media on a national scale shouldn’t make us question the work we do. We must be able to educate ourselves and our audiences about…

Tools of Truth landing page

In the era of the fight against fake news, we believe journalists must be aware of the social climate surrounding the work they do. The attacks and delegitimization of the news media on a national scale shouldn’t make us question the work we do. We must be able to educate ourselves and our audiences about…

Deceptive news lessons

In the era of the fight against fake news, we believe journalists must be aware of the social climate surrounding the work they do. The attacks and delegitimization of the news media on a national scale shouldn’t make us question the work we do. We must be able to educate ourselves and our audiences about…

Censorship lessons

In the era of the fight against fake news, we believe journalists must be aware of the social climate surrounding the work they do. The attacks and delegitimization of the news media on a national scale shouldn’t make us question the work we do. We must be able to educate ourselves and our audiences about…

Satire’s role in current events

by Michael Johnson Title Satire’s role in current events Description According to Wyatt Mason in an online article published in the New York Times Magazine titled “My Satirical Self,” readers in the 21st century have “taken shelter in the ridiculous.” He provides an excerpt from The Onion, a satirical online news source referenced as “America’s…

How well can your students
recognize sponsored content?

by John Bowen Title How well can your students recognize sponsored content? Description — third in the sequence Because of the rapid spread of sponsored content, students may have to decide whether to accept sponsored content in their student media. How well can they recognize it and what would they do once they recognize it?…