Lack of media diversity creates problems for democracy
by Candace Bowen, MJE
Columbia Journalism Review is focusing on diversity in this fall’s print issue and online site— not the diversity of inclusion or the diversity that just gives us more voices. In the intro to the Fall 2018 issue,author Jelani Cobb, director of Columbia University’s Ira A. Lipman Center for Journalism and Human Rights, says now it’s more than that. She shows how journalists are just plain missing the story.
Student journalists should heal and transform the world
JEA president Sarah Nichols, MJE, gives Rachel Simpson, principal of the Convent of the Sacred Heart in San Francisco, her JEA Administrator of the Year award Nov. 3 at the JEA/NSPA convention in Chicago. Here are her comments. Photo by Mike Simons.
JEA Administrator
of the Year, Rachel Simpson
Thanks to the JEA for this award. It is an honor to be here and an extraordinary privilege — and a wonderful surprise, frankly — to be recognized in this way.
Gratitude to everyone in this room for your work motivating student’ voice and student publication. Specifically, in relation to my own school — Convent of the Sacred Heart High School which is a division of Schools of the Sacred Heart San Francisco — I would like to highlight the excellence of our student journalists and Tracy Sena’s role as their trusted adviser.
I don’t believe the concept of scholastic press freedom would be possible without the trinity of dedicated and ethically minded students, supported by a deeply committed and responsible advisor within a school culture that upholds the empowerment of student voice and agency as a core value.
Read MoreStudent journalists are the real deal
As editor Gillian McGoldrick and former editor Tanvi Kumar tell their stories to NPR co-host Audie Cornish, another former student who stood up for her right so speak — Mary Beth Tinker — tapes the presentation. (photo by John Bowen)
by Cyndi Hyatt
A few weeks back a student reporter asked a school administrator if she could cover a school-related banquet at a local country club, an event much touted and advertised.
Sure was the response, but she would have to buy a ticket.
She was not expecting that response, nor was I. After some adviser-led investigation and nudging, the reporter was granted access to the event and the story appeared in the latest issue of the newspaper.
The student reporter was even approached by the district’s public relations people for photos to use on the district website and in press-releases.
But what got me thinking was the initial assumption about her – that a student reporter was not a “real” reporter.
And that is a gross misconception to say the least.
Would the response be the same if the local news van showed up to cover the story? I doubt they would have had to dish out $100.00 for entrance to the event. I imagine the organizers would have welcomed the professional media, grateful for the coverage.
And, as it turned out, the only coverage was from the school student-run newspaper.
Facing the challenge of having students recognized as legitimate, trained journalists will never go away, but this most recent incident had me thinking of three steps we take every year to help others recognize the credibility of our young journalists.
- Press passes for everyone. Each year we have our photography editor take head shots of all staff. A local printer makes us complementary color photos so all we pay for are the sleeves and the logo lanyards. All passes are dated and signed by the advisers.
- Staff apparel. Student reporters are identified further as journalists by the tee-shirt or fleece jacket they wear to events. It’s a uniform approach, recognizable in school and community.
- Assertion. In the case of a paid event, our students are encouraged to approach the organizers with a statement rather than a question. “We would like to cover your event Saturday” is a lot stronger that “May we come to your event on Saturday?” A few adjustments in language can make a difference.
A solid student journalism program needs to command the respect it deserves. Don’t settle for no when you are doing the community a service, telling others’ stories or spreading the news.
Look the part and be assertive. The results are worth it.
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New Quick Tips listing can help provide
solutions, guides to media issues
Working on a sensitive story? Looking to add new ethical guidelines to help students deal with new technology? Want to finalize the process to use if students wish to run political ads or endorsements?
Quick Tips can help with ethical guidelines supported by reasoning and staff manual procedures to reach outcomes you desire.
If you or your students have suggestions to add to our list, please contact SPRC Director Lori Keekley.
This is our latest Quick Tips list. We hope you find its points useful.
Each newly posted QT has a short annotation and a link to the materials. Each addition also has links for more depth and related content.
To see a list of already posted Quick Tips, please go here.
Read MoreSolutions Journalism
Solutions Journalism doesn’t offer its solution to issues. It does report on what others haveworked and what has not
by Kristin Taylor
David Bornstein co-authors the “Fixes” column in the New York Times, a column focused on solutions journalism. In his 2012 TED talk, Bornstein explains why he has pursued solutions in his investigative journalism rather than simply focusing on the problem.
Seeking journalistic truth
Helping student journalists to seek the truth
by Kristin Taylor
What does it mean to be truthful? Is truthfulness accurate numbers and statistics? Multiple points of view? Context to help the reader understand the time and place and other circumstances? All of the above?
Journalistic truth “means much more than mere accuracy,” according the seminal text “The Elements of Journalism” by Kovach and Rosenstiel. “It is a sorting-out process that takes place between the initial story and the interaction among the public, newsmakers and journalists.”
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