Crossing the line: student challenges public media ethics
When a television reporter crossed the line to get a story about a local high school’s security system that led to a school lockdown, a student journalist challenged the media’s ethics.
Kirkwood High School’s (Mo.) Ian Madden knew from journalism class that truth is the most important tool in journalistic ethics. When a reporter from the St. Louis television station KSDK (Channel 5) went under cover to gather information about the the flaws in Kirkwood High School building security, Madden knew he had to challenge the television reporter’s ethics. In addition to surreptitiously gaining entrance into the school, the professional reporter misconstrued and left out crucial information that set off Madden. He was not the only one who noticed. Media from across the country picked up Madden’s challenge, which ultimately let to an apology to the public from the television station.
According to Madden’s adviser, Mitch Eden, “everybody noticed. Local media, social media and, of course, the Kirkwood H.S. media. Ian Madden, Kirkwood Call opinions writer, was so upset he started writing at midnight and posted to TheKirkwoodCall.com the next morning. It connected with the audience receiving more than 30,000 hits in a three-day span. Ian was a spokesperson for his peers and community. He was questioning journalism ethics by the professional media. His piece was picked up and mentioned in several local media outlets and he was a guest on a KMOX radio show. The event itself eventually reached the New York Times, Poynter, SPJ and more. But it was Ian who modeled professional standards, quality journalism and even better passion and judgment first.”
Click this link to read Madden’s challenge to the professional media.
http://www.thekirkwoodcall.com/_stories_/opinion/2014/01/17/where-ksdk-went-wrong-2/
The following links document the impact of one student’s mission to challenge public media’s for engaging in unethical reporting practices.
*The Call’s breaking news piece of the event for background: http://www.thekirkwoodcall.com/top-stories/2014/01/16/khs-goes-on-lockdown-2/
*Check out these links of professional media covering the event and subsequently covering the journalistic ethics in question:
KHS/KSDK Security “Test”
The Call – Opinions (Ian Madden)
http://www.thekirkwoodcall.com/top-stories/2014/01/17/where-ksdk-went-wrong-2/
The Call – Breaking News (Antonia Akrap and Jane Manwarring)
http://www.thekirkwoodcall.com/top-stories/2014/01/16/khs-goes-on-lockdown-2/
KSDK
http://www.ksdk.com/story/news/local/2014/01/16/newschannel-5-statement-school-safety/4531859/
Poynter
SNO Summary
KMOX Radio Show with Ian Madden
Huffington Post
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/stacey-newman/tv-media-stunt-school-shootings_b_4647641.html
STL PD
Fox
http://fox2now.com/2014/01/16/kirkwood-high-school-locked-down-while-police-search-for-man/
KMOV
RFT:
http://blogs.riverfronttimes.com/dailyrft/2014/01/ksdk_kirkwood_lockdown.php
McClellan:
WKT:
Opposing Views:
Gateway Journalism Review:
The Apology
http://www.ksdk.com/videos/news/2014/01/19/4653995/
St. Louis Today
SPJ Ethical Code: Avoid undercover methods of gathering info except when traditional open methods won’t yield info vital to public.
http://www.spj.org/ethicscode.asp:
Donnybrook:
http://video.ketc.org/video/2365158824/
New York Times
Read MoreStudents report on shattered dreams
MAKING A DIFFERENCE: Part of a monthly series
At this time of year, students look forward to many end of year and end of high school events like prom and graduation parties. The AHS Talon at Atascocita High School in Humble, Texas, did expansive coverage of a school-wide conversation about the impact of drunken driving.
Adviser Monica Rhor said, “Our online package examining the impact of reckless driving expanded a school-wide conversation that began with a “Shattered Dreams” event. The stories included daily reports from the day of “Shattered Dreams,” which showed the immediate impact of the program, and a more in-depth series that showed real life consequences. The “Danger Behind the Wheel” series, which included interviews with the families and friends of people killed and injured by drunk drivers, helped students see beyond the numbers and the staged event and recognize the real human cost of drunk driving.”
The real to life experiences of the “Shattered Dreams” event hit home three days after the event when an Atascocita High School graduate was killed by a driver who police allege was drunk.
Their stories can be found at this link:
http://ahstalon.com/category/shattered-dreams/
Websites should post policies, procedures, too
by Candace Bowen
Including a mission statement and other policy points on the newspaper’s editorial page or inside a newsmag front cover is pretty standard, but where does that info go on a website? From recent experience judging state competitions, it seems some staffs really aren’t sure.
Students support peers across the country in censorship case
Part four of a series – Making a Difference
In celebration of the anniversary of the February 25, 1969, United States Supreme Court Tinker vs. Des Moines, the JEA SPRC Making a Difference project salutes the The Foothill Dragon Press at Foothill Technology High School in Ventura (Calif.) for their support of fellow student journalists across country at the Playwickian, at Neshaminy High School (Pa.).
When student journalists at The Foothill Dragon Press learned that their peers were being censored, they posted this editorial on their website, entitled When one student is threatened, we are all threatened.
Their adviser, Melissa Wantz wrote “When the Neshaminy School Board in Langhorne, Pa., decided to rewrite district policy to prevent student editors at Neshaminy High School from prohibiting the word “Redskin” — a term the newspaper voted to ban from its pages — my students decided to use their editorial power to denounce the school board and to support the Playwickian newspaper staff. The day after the editorial was published online at www.foothilldragonpress.org, it was quoted or linked on social media, email and in an article published by the Student Press Law Center.
After researching and writing this editorial over a weekend, The Foothill Dragon Press journalists suddenly understood what it might feel like to lose their freedom and how they have to be prepared to fight for the First Amendment. The staff of the Playwickian expressed gratitude for The Foothill Dragon Press support by using their free speech rights to publicly comment beneath the online editorial.”
In September, the Playwickian staff had funds removed from their publishing account and one of their editors, Gillian McGoldrick, was suspended from her editorial position for a month. The adviser, Tara Huber was also suspended for three days without pay, because she did not censor her students for their practice of banning the term “Redskin” in their newspaper.
Once again the Foothills Dragon staff rose to the challenge and started an independent, national fundraiser to help pay for the publishing funds removed and the three days of pay the teacher lost as a result of the administrative discipline. That fundraiser surpassed the $2,400 in two days and reached a total of $6,810 to support their peers.
Like Mary Beth Tinker and John Tinker, these student journalists in Ventura, Calif., have made a national difference along with their peers in Langhorne, Pa. via scholastic journalism.
Read MoreContests can help promote students making decisions
“You mean my students’ newspaper can’t win the top award? Just because I read their publication before it goes to press?” an irate principal asked when he called his state’s scholastic press association a few years ago. Well, not exactly, but in a way – yes.
Read More