Ethics – JEA

Achieving ethical fitness is key journalistic tool

Evaluating Ethical Fitness, Red and Green Light Approaches “To be a journalist, ethics must be a part of you — not a page in a book or framed parchment on a wall.” – Gerald M. Sass, The Freedom Forum The above statement by Gerald M. Sass really sets the stage for the mission, goals and evidence…

Now more than ever

‘The Elements of Journalism’ for student media “Now more than ever….” It’s a song title, a well-known speech to military troops, a documentary about the band Chicago, and a phrase used by those who want to emphasize the importance of something happening RIGHT NOW. And there’s certainly plenty going on in the world, in our…

America is…

Black and white image containing a tight shot of a fence or gate in front of a sign with the word "First" in white scripted font above the word "AMENDMENT" in all caps and black font with a white fill.

“The one thing that I think is vital — our most important obligation,” Mark Goodman, former Executive Director of the Student Press Law Center and of the Center of Scholastic Journalism at Kent State University, said. “We HAVE to teach students that censorship is wrong, morally, educationally, journalistically, even when it cannot be avoided or…

Is the school board one of your beats? Part 2

Here’s why it should be and how to do it right Part 2 – What makes it challenging legally and ethically This three-part blog has it all: an explanation of the need for good coverage of school board issues, the legal and ethical concerns for this reporting, and the writing skills to effectively tell your…

Is the school board one of your beats? Part 1

Here’s why it should be and how to do it right Part 1 – Why covering school boards is important This three-part blog has it all: an explanation of the need for good coverage of school board issues, the legal and ethical concerns for this reporting, and the writing skills to effectively tell your audience…

What is the purpose of your student publication?

Developing student-led mission statements and a culture covering stories that matter can serve both school and local communities. Many years ago, I was confronted by an angry parent after a long production meeting. She felt her daughter, an editor, spent too much time working on the paper. “This isn’t the New York Times!” she reminded…

Best practices to shape AI, journalism union

Fifteen years ago Feb. 1, 2009, copyright education centered on online term papers. Back then, USA Today reported, as did SPRC’s blog, about a court case against a company accused selling term papers online without proving content ownership. A US district judge in Illinois ordered the owner of the web-based company to stop selling term papers…

JEA Curriculum Highlight: Introducing Students to Takedown Requests

Photo of a person holding an Ipad that has a newsreel on

If your staff has had a website for long, they’ve probably received a request to take down something that’s been published. It might have been something the team published last year or even five years ago. In this lesson 50-minute lesson in the JEA Curriculum, students will work to understand the basic considerations of a…

Student journalists can tackle current, key issues

For 19 days now, Ohioans anywhere near East Palestine, a town with close to 4,700 residents near the Pennsylvania state line, tried to grasp the Norfolk Southern train’s derailment impact on their futures and those of their town. Today, Feb. 22, Northern Ohioans and others in the proximity of railroad tracks, might have reason to…

Charles E. Smith Jewish Day School Policy Statement of Policy on Student Media

The Lion’s Tale – Press Rights Protocol I. Introduction/Statement of Policy Freedom of expression and press freedom are fundamental values in a democratic society. As an educational institution committed to preparing engaged and responsible citizens, the Charles E. Smith Jewish Day School believes in teaching students these values, both by lesson and by example. CESJDS…