The Latest – Page 84

Noteworthy information 8: Check out the new SPLC site

Just in time for the start of classes, the Student Press Law Center unveiled its new website today. “This morning, after a year of groundwork,” SPLC director Frank LoMonte said in a press release, “we flipped the switch on a greatly upgraded site that is designed to be more modern-looking and easier to navigate, with…

Noteworthy information 10: Questions for the new era

To help us prepare for scholastic journalism’s new era, let’s look at the 10 roles exercise recently outlined by the Center for Scholastic Journalism. Instead of thinking of the roles in terms of print media, let’s project the roles into the future and discuss them in terms of scholastic media’s use of social media. And,…

Noteworthy information 7

If it looks and acts like a cheerleader, it shouldn’t end up being a student news outlet. At least that’s the view presented in the Center for Scholastic Journalism’s latest post, one in a series of decision-making choices about possible roles for student media. Writing a mission statement using this process is something students should…

Noteworthy information 6

Essential to the distribution of information that strengthens the credibility of scholastic media and its integrity, whether by legacy media or multimedia, is sound information gathering and attribution. Some interesting resources that can supply needed perspective and depth, build credibility and demonstrate leadership roles through reporting: • Journalist’s Resource from Harvard’s Joan Shorenstein Center on…

Noteworthy information 5

As we start the year, we sometimes need to find or in some cases, revisit, roadmaps. Two such roadmaps come to mind. One involves stating or clarifying your mission. For an excellent exercise, and ongoing discussion about what this mission can entail, look at the Center for Scholastic Journalism blog today, and in the next…

Noteworthy information 4

For a lighter way to emphasize a serious topic – attribution and news credibility – check out Warning Labels by Tom Scott. Scott lists himself as a “geek comedian” but his warning labels speak eloquently to a serious issue: how to get journalism students – and even more importantly – their audiences to recognize sloppy and inadequate…

Noteworthy information 3

Because scholastic journalism programs face tough times in the classroom and as viable activities because of financial and curricular crunches, it’s always good to have statements about the value of scholastic media ready for use. Here are three that could come in handy: • An NCTE Position Statement on the importance of journalism courses in…

Noteworthy information, part 2

Is it coincidence that two brothers who are superintendents, one in Montana and one in Washington, are involved in student expression issues? Alex Apostle of Missoula, Montana, schools, is the older brother of Tony Apostle of Puyallup schools, Washington. Maybe the two should talk about Tony’s ways to support scholastic journalism. Part 3 coming tomorrow.

Noteworthy information for the start of a new school year

As we prepare to return to school, several pieces of information are worth our attention: • Another Washington school argues it is not responsible for student media content. The SPLC in its news flashes today ran a story about the Seattle school district saying it would not be responsible for content in a potential libel…

Journalism requires civic engagement

As we start the new school year, we need to remind ourselves that journalism is civic engagement. I have been thinking about this for some time because journalism is a discipline that requires more than reading the book, completing a FIB (fill in he blank) sheet and then taking a test. Rather, journalism requires that…

Getting source consent when handling sensitive issues

Because some student journalists have had issues, including facing litigation, with identifiable sources claiming they did not give consent for the publication of information attributed to them, JEA’s Scholastic Press Rights Commission recommends student media organizations follow a consistent process to help prove consent was obtained and to avoid potential legal conflicts. The Commission recognizes…

Journalistic credibility – gone with LeBron

I know this is not directly related to scholastic journalism, but in a way it is. As scholastic media – online and print – strive to find models of what they want to emulate, they of course look to the commercial media (I have reasons for not grouping them all under the guise of professional)….