Six principles of scholastic journalism
1. Establish policies enabling effective and responsible reporting.
Students: Practice effective and responsible reporting.
Student journalists practice their First Amendment rights and responsibilities when reporting as designated public forums. When students follow and adapt a code of ethics based on professional standards such as those of the Society of Professional Journalists or the Radio Television Digital News Association, they develop civic responsibility and understand their free speech rights and responsibilities. When they adhere to professional, legal and ethical standards, student journalists enhance their credibility and build public trust. Democracy stagnates when the flow of information is impeded.
Advisers: Develop policies and practices for effective and responsible reporting
Advisers should teach and coach students about legal and ethical principles of responsible journalism by working with them to develop effective policies as well as sound learning processes. In instilling professional legal and ethical standards in their students and creating open forums for student expression, advisers should follow the Journalism Education Association’s Adviser Code of Ethics. Central to this guidance is empowering students to make final decisions of all content, and to anticipate the impact of their decisions.
Administrators: Establish policies for effective and responsible reporting
Effective and responsible student media policies and processes enable all student media to operate as designated public forums where students practice their First Amendment rights – and responsibilities. A code of ethics for students and advisers, based on professional standards such as those of the Journalism Education Association and Society of Professional Journalists, supplements these policies and provides direction. The more student journalists adhere to professional, legal and ethical standards, the more they serve their communities, developing civic responsibility, enhancing their credibility and building public trust.