“A core value of being a journalist is to understand the role of the press in a free society. That role is to provide an independent source of information so that a citizen can make informed decisions. It is often the case that this core value of journalistic independence requires a journalist to question authority rather than side with authority. Thus, if the role of the press in a democratic society is to have any value, all journalists – including student journalists – must be allowed to publish viewpoints contrary to those of state authorities without intervention or censorship by the authorities themselves. Without protection, the
freedoms of speech and press are meaningless and the press becomes a mere channel for official thought.”
Dean v. Utica Community Schools
345 F.Supp.2d 799 [E.D. Mich. 2004]

• DOWNLOAD OVERALL 6 PRINCIPLES POSTER
here

• DOWNLOAD STUDENT RESPONSIBILITY 6 PRINCIPLES POSTER
here

• DOWNLOAD ADVISER RESPONSIBILITY 6 PRINCIPLES POSTER
here

• DOWNLOAD ADVISER CODE OF ETHICS POSTER
here

• DOWNLOAD HIGH SCHOOL JOURNALISM MATTERS POSTER
here

Policies:
Information about how journalistic policies protect the school system, teachers, students and the community.

Instructions: To open or download materials listed below, read the brief annotations and click where indicated. Remember to cite the source of all materials. You can use them in any of your educational activities.

• Wording to avoid in designing editorial policies: This PowerPoint takes wording from existing non-forum editorial policies and talks about why it should be avoided.

• Be careful when developing editorial policy wording: This PDF is by John and Candace Bowen and urges students and advisers to be careful in how they word a policy. For years, the Journalism Education Association and the Student Press Law Center have urged advisers and students to develop editorial policies as the first step to a professionally oriented journalism program. Some are not what JEA and the SPLC have in mind.

• Double-edged sword of policies: This PDF written by Mark Goodman, former SPLC director, warns that weakly structured policies can be worse than no policy at all.

• Sample editorial policies– Look, examine and borrow ideas: These PDFs provide insight into what some schools have achieved in terms of policies. If you go to the Center for Scholastic Journalism's Web site, you will be able to see a list of schools having forum policies, see the policies and contact advisers at those schools. Editorial policies include:
--UpperArlington High School policy.
--Auburn High School policy.
--Canton City Schools policy.
--Canton High School adviser development policy.
--Francis Howell North High School newspaper policy.
--Francis Howell North High School yearbook policy.
--Hoban High School newspaper policy.
--Hunterdon Central High School newspaper policy.
--Lakewood High School board and newspaper policies.
--Pottsville Area High School newspaper policy.

• AEJMC/JEA model editorial policy: This PDF contains JEA's model editorial policy stressing the educational and legal values of having a designated forum for student expression and no prior review.

• What might go into your editorial policy: This PDF lists points found in strong editorial policies. This PDF shows how some schools addressed those contents.

• What is your mission?: This PowerPoint explores how clearly established mission statements and roles can determine what your overal editorial policy approach is.

• Obituary statements: Teach editorial policy needs to have a clear obituary statement. This PowerPoint examines several existing statements and talks about what could be included.