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Law, Ethics and News Literacy
Law Literacy
Censorship essay
Left: In this PDF is an essay I wrote on censorship. This assignment referenced an article called "Hard News. Angry Adminstration. Teenage Journalists Know What It's Like." This essay shows both my strong opinions and strong understanding of press law literacy. Censorship is a big deal for student journalists restricted by administrators. I met several people at CSPA in the summer of 2023 who have administrators who have to read through every issue before publishing for approval. It is terrible some student journalists are so restricted, my voice is everything and no censorship can stop that.
Every journalist must know the laws that govern journalism. Freedom of the Press is the fundamental human right for media, especially published media, to be expressed freely. Every journalist should be very familiar with free speech and press related laws.
Ethics literacy
Ethics worksheet with responses
Journalist integrity is required for every journalist, I am not writing gotcha journalism I am writing quality work that means something. To do that, journalists must work to understand both the SPJ code of ethics and how to be F.A.B. (Fair, Accurate, and Balanced)
Above: Here are two images that show excerpts from a worksheet I did in J1 that was based on my responses to ethical dilemmas that journalists have run into. My facilitators and teacher, Mr. David Ragsdale, both thought I did a good job in my responses, so I wanted to include this. I feel I have a good sense of what is right and wrong, but being a journalist has tested that. One way I act ethically in my journalistic procedures is through constant assurances with sources to ensure comfort while interviewing. I would never want to push a stakeholder too far and publish something they wish they hadn't said.
News Literacy
News literacy includes the understanding of media so you can analyze the messages the media is presenting and take action. As a journalist, you need to take the power of information, share it with your audience, and try to create change in your community with your writing.
Redefining objectivity at NSPA
Left: Here are three images that show the notes I took from "More than Both Sides: Redfining Objectivity," a session I attended at the National Scholastic Press Association in the fall of 2023. One thing I had to learn was that to be a journalist, you need not just to lay out the facts you need to tell the story and uncover the truth. This is vital for journalists to understand because a journalist is a storyteller, not just someone who transcribes quotes. Another thing I learned from this session is when covering an issue, you don't leave it to the winner you have to tell the story of impacts. This is important for a journalist to understand because, agai we have to tell a story that informs our audience, the news serves a purpose to inform.
Preser glows and grows list
Right: In this image is a glows and grows list me and a peer made after a press conference. That specific press conference was difficult for me because my story was very serious and the administration was hesitating to respond. The last grow is a good representation of what I learned from that presser and what I needed to fix. I have taken those grows and improved since then.
Final Thoughts
At my publication, I think people undervalue the importance of understanding your journalistic ethics and laws. Without understanding these critical cores of journalism, the work you produce is likely to misrepresent the people you cover and create dilemmas.
Speaking of news literacy, I think it is a skill everyone should learn at some point. With the rise of misinformation via social media, the skill of analyzing news and understanding where this source comes from is vital.
I am so glad Journalism has taught me to examine the world around me from a skeptic perspective.
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