The Latest Archives

2015 Constitution Day lessons

In preparation for Constitution Day 2015, several members of the Scholastic Press Rights Committee (SPRC), a committee of the Journalism Education Association, created lesson plans specific for the event. We suggest celebrating the day Sept. 17. We created these lessons to help celebrate the Constitution and Bill of Rights, as mandated by Congress. Legislation requires schools to offer…

Understanding the perils of
prior review and restraint

Title Understanding the perils of prior review and restraint Description This lesson asks the viewers to participate by providing the answers to several questions concerning prior review and restraint. Following each slide, the correct answer is provided as well as a description of the reasoning for the answer. Objectives • Students will learn the difference…

Listening with a skeptical ear:
A lesson on how to check out
source accuracy and credibility

Title Listening with a skeptical ear: A lesson on how to check out source accuracy and credibility Description Tis the season. With candidates jostling for positions in the 2016 presidential election and numerous state, local races taking shape and issues developing readers and viewers face an onslaught of information not limited to politics. Student journalists…

Limits to taking a stance
in front page design?

Title What are the limits to showing support/opposition of timely events or issues in design elements on news pages? Description Was it OK for student newspaper to Rainbow Filter its Twitter profile pic? Student journalists have always been taught standards of objectivity. The recent U.S. Supreme Court decision on same sex marriage led at least…

Celebrating Constitution Day

Title Celebrating Constitution Day at your school. Description Host a school-wide Constitution Day at school by combining the efforts of the social studies, English and journalism teachers. Objectives • Students will learn more about the Constitution • Students will explore how the Constitution fits with their daily lives • Students will revisit the rights guaranteed…

Should news media neglect events or people?

Title Should media ever not report events or personalities? What ethical issues are involved? Description The Huffington Post recently announced it would only report Donald Trump’s bid for the Republican nomination for president on the entertainment pages. Historically, many would argue this decision runs counter to the journalistic concept of objectivity. Others argue journalism’s changing…

Join us Aug. 31 to learn more about Constitution Day

Need Constitution Day celebration ideas? Join us Aug. 31 at 7 CDT as we highlight several ways to celebrate. Here’s where it will take place: http://bit.ly/1fX9OHd Members of JEA’s Scholastic Press Rights Committee will lead the session. So far, we have Lori Keekley, Jeff Kocur, Chris Waugaman and John Bowen. That’s 7 p.m. CDT, Aug. 31, at…

Additional WDBJ case studies available from Newseum

In addition to the lessons and activities already posted on this site, we would recommend the Newseum’s educational case studies for additional questions and looks at tough decisions journalists, including those on the scholastic level, sometimes face. Our thanks to Maggie Crawford, Senior Education Manager for making information about this resource available.

Lesson: Should media re-air a broadcast
in which two people are killed?

Title Should media re-air a broadcast in which two people are gunned down? Description Students will examine how to examine ethics of re-airing this broadcast using Poynter’s 10 questions to make good ethical choices. Objectives Students will collaboratively work through questions to help them make a decision involving journalism ethics. Students will decide what they…

Virginia shooting aired live,
coverage offers timely discussions

The shooting deaths of two journalists today and the wounding of a third person in Virginia creates possible lessons for scholastic media classrooms. Ethics: Should other media repeat the video of the actual shooting? The shooting was broadcast live. Students could discuss the reasons for and against repeating the shooting and develop ethical guidelines for…

Finding pieces of the puzzle
that is scholastic media

Looking for the pieces to the journalistic puzzle a new year of student media will bring? Here are some pieces that might help: • Use of the Panic Button can help with legal or ethical issues. • Constitution Day materials available around the first of September. Congress mandated schools must provide lessons and activities on…

Handout: Foundations of journalism: Policy, procedure, guideline

Names:____________________________________________________________________ Topic: _____________________________________________________________________ Part 1: Legal Considerations: Ethical Considerations: Terms to define (include definitions): Precedent(s) if applicable: Proposed wording: Part 2: Look at the wording of the procedure or guideline. Highlight any red flag words or phrases. Circle any unclear information. Box any other problems. Is this a procedure or…