WebQuest
In the Midst of Crisis.... Creating an Editorial Policy for a High School Newspaper
Process
Since you will be writing several different policies, this section will provide you with guiding policies for writing these policies as well as resources to help you through the writing process. In addition, at the end there will be some fun activities you can do to check your knowledge of this information.
1. Freedom of the Press:
- What does freedom of the press mean to you as a student journalist?
- In whose interest is the book/newspaper published?
- What will the editorial board do if they are faced with issues of censorship?
2. Role of Building Administration
- What role does the building administration play in relation to the yearbook program?
- May the yearbook staff and/or the adviser seek input from the administration during the production process regarding the content of the book?
- Does the administration have a role in censoring the content of the yearbook? If so, what role?
3. Purpose of Newspaper/Yearbook
- Is the yearbook an open forum?
- Is the newspaper an open forum?
- What role do the student publications play in the school community?
- What are the goals of the student publications regarding coverage and school population?
4. Content
- Who determines what will be covered, where it will be covered and the amount of space that will be given to content?
- What material will NOT be covered in the yearbook?
- Under what conditions will the yearbook criticize school/teacher policies or procedures?
- Under what conditions will material or information be excluded from the book?
- What will happen if this policy needs to be changed?
- What role does the administration play with regard to this portion of this policy?
- How will student names be spelled? Will students be able to ask for a change in the spelling of their names? Will parents be required to agree to such a name change?
5. Controversial Issues
- How will yearbook staff insure that bias does not appear in writing on controversial issues?
- What questions will the editorial board consider before deciding to pursue a controversial issue for publication in the yearbook?
6. Obituaries
- What members of the school community will be covered under the obituary policy?
- What information will the yearbook publish regarding the death? What role does the deceased's family play in determining what will be published?
- Will a picture accompany the obituary? What size photograph?
- Where in the yearbook will obituaries appear?
- Will suicide ever be listed as a cause of death? Will cause of death ever be listed?
- Will books be dedicated to or published in memory of the deceased?
7. Prior Review/Prior Restraint
- When will a source be allowed to review quotes?
- Can a source demand to read a completed story? Can a source demand edits be made to a completed story?
- When will a source be named in a story?
- Will the newspaper or yearbook be reviewed by school administration prior to publication? Do they have the right to demand changes to the publication for reasons other than those that could cost the school financially?
Resources:
Student Press Law Center Top Ten Questions: http://www.splc.org/knowyourrights/legalresearch.asp?id=3
SPLC Legal Guides: http://www.splc.org/knowyourrights/legalresearch.asp
Libel and Privacy Laws: http://www.splc.org/knowyourrights/legalresearch.asp?maincat=4
Ethics Discussion: http://jeapressrights.org/2008documents/2008newsupdate.html
Information regarding law enforcement data - http://www2.ed.gov/policy/gen/guid/fpco/ferpa/library/montcounty0215.html
Poynter Institute: First Amendment for the High School Journalist: http://www.newsu.org/courses/first-amendment-high-school-journalist
my.hsj.org: http://www.hsj.org/index.cfm
NSPA Model Code of Ethics: http://www.studentpress.org/nspa/pdf/wheel_modelcode
Sample editorial policies: http://jeapressrights.org/2008documents/2008ResponsibleJ/RJ1/rjpolicies.html
Games:
Student Press Law Quiz: http://www.splc.org/hspresslawtest/
First Amendment Quiz: http://www.splc.org/falawtest/
My High School Journalism Quiz: http://www.hsj.org/modules/test_your_skills/index.cfm?menu_id=5&module_id=14
First Amendment for the High School Journalist: http://www.newsu.org/courses/first-amendment-high-school-journalist
The Public URL for this WebQuest:
http://zunal.com/webquest.php?w=161917
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