Statement of Guiding Ethics and Policies of

Leavenworth High School

Journalism Publications and Productions

General Purpose:

LHS Publications serve their readers by informing; presenting open forums of expression for students, faculty and administrators; advocating for student interests; as well as entertaining. Student editors are solely responsible for the content of these student-produced publications/productions as described in Kan. Stat. Ann. Sections 72.1504 - 72.1506. The views presented in the Patriot, the Word, and the Junebug do not necessarily reflect those of the administration of Leavenworth High School or USD 453. USD 453 recognizes and adheres to the Kansas Student Publications Act [Kan. Stat. Ann. Sections 72.1504 - 72.1506]. Among other things the KSPA states that

· Material shall not be suppressed solely because it involves political or controversial subject matter.

· Student editors of student publications are responsible for determining the news, opinion, and advertising content of such publications.

· No publication or other expression of matter by students in the exercise of rights under this act shall be deemed to be an expression of school district policy.

To read the full text of the KSPA go to http://www.splc.org/law_library.asp?id=9

The Editorial Board:

The Editorial Board shall consist of the editors in chief of the Junebug and Patriot as well as the producer of the Word. The journalism instructor will serve in an advisory position.

Public Relations:

Impressions of LHS and the Journalism department are extremely important. Staff members should be responsive, courteous, and professional to anyone they conduct business with as a representative of their publication/production. Even when handling complaints, staff members will be courteous and deliver the complaint to a student editor or the adviser.

Prior Review:

Outside review of copy, photographs, footage or artwork by sources or censors is not permitted unless approved in advance by the student editor and adviser. Sources can double check the accuracy of a reporter’s notes by requesting that their quote be read back verbatim. It is required that reporters double check facts and quotations before publication, but word-for-word advance viewing of a story in its entirety is not permitted such a ban on prior review is supported by the Journalism Education Association and most other professional journalism education organizations. For more information go to http://www.jea.org/resources/pressrights/resources/opp_prior.htm

Reporters asked by LHS staff members or students to see a story or picture before publication, should politely say “that is not our policy” and refer the person to the student editors and adviser for further information.

Corrections:

The decision to run a correction is made by the student editor. A correction will be deemed necessary if inaccurate facts wrongly shed a negative light on an individual. Yearbook journalists must remember that they do not have the luxury of corrections in future issues, thus, accuracy is crucial. The following corrective actions will be taken by student editors in the publication/production the mistake appeared in:

the Patriot: Corrections will be run in the issue of the newspaper published following the verified inaccuracy
the Junebug: A “crack and peel” option will be given to the individual to correct their books and 50 others.
the Word: Corrections will be run in the next broadcast after the mistake has been confirmed
ALL: the reporter responsible will write a letter of apology to the affected party (ies).

Letters to the Editor:

The Patriot accepts letters to the editor of 250 words or less. Letters must be signed and are subject to refusal or editor for length and grammar. Those submissions refused for length and grammar will be returned and given the opportunity to summarize their thoughts to meet the requirement. Letters are accepted from all and will be printed within two issues of when the letter is received.

The Junebug does not accept letters for publication but welcomes any comments for consideration.

Sources:

Reporters will not accept off-the-record information from sources. Reporters will not promise a source anonymity until they have been given permission by the student editor and adviser. Anonymity will be granted if there is a reasonable fear of physical or persistent mental abuse and anonymity is requested by the source.

Three sources must be used in each story, either directly or indirectly, and at least five must be contacted/consulted. It is required that reporters keep interview and quotes in their possession until the end to each school year. If a student under the age of 18 admits participating in illegal activities, a parent/guardian must sign a statement acknowledging their student’s participation in the story before comments by the minor can be published.

Advertising:

The student editors of the publications have the right to reject, edit, or cancel any advertisement at any time. If a business pays for advertising in advance of publication and the staff decides to cancel the advertising, the full price of the remaining ads will be refunded.

Advertising will be free of statements, illustrations, or implications that are offensive to good taste or public decency based on the opinion of the Journalism department Editorial Board.
Advertising will offer merchandise or service on its merits and refrain from attacking competitors unfairly or disparaging their products, services, or methods of doing business.
The Editorial Board reserves the right to decline advertising that might be of a disruptive nature.
The Editorial Board will not accept advertising for products or groups that are racist, sexist, illegal for the majority of high school students, violates other standard student journalistic principles (libel, obscenity, invasion of privacy, disruption of school activities).
Acceptance of advertising by the Editorial Board is not an endorsement by the staff, the adviser, the administration, or Leavenworth USD 453.