Law and Ethics
Teaching ethics
Our newspaper does not have an ethics policy in place or in print, but we do have lessons reviewing our standards. Here are some of the things we discuss throughout the course:
Asking permission/receiving consent. Prior to any interview, we always emphasize how important it is to ask our interviewees if we could record the conversation. If we ever have “off the record” conversations, we either end the recording and resume when we’re back on topic or make note of the part of the conversation we cannot use. We also allow our interviewees to remain anonymous to protect their identity; however, we tell our writers to not encourage it. I’ve personally dealt with this mostly with teachers, but I have also had students who wished to remain anonymous.
Never plagiarize/remain transparent. If our writers take an assignment, they must fully commit to the work, even if it’s stressful and takes more effort. Our editorial board takes the time to ensure our writers are citing their sources, if necessary, and having all the work be their own.
Details are essential. As my advisor says, a great article has “teeth,” or a good bite to it. In other words, it’s full of great details and context. We cannot settle for oversimplification or misrepresentation in our work. If an idea is packed with details, then we must present those details to accurately and effectively present the information.
Be mindful of who we are writing about. Understanding cultural differences and politically correct terms, as well as remaining sensitive to certain topics, are essential to show compassion to those who may be affected by our work.
Finding our purpose. Many believe that journalists exist to create drama or spark outrage. While that may be the case for some, I stand by the truth that journalists strive to tell a story that brings light to a topic and introduces new discussions. If there are controversial issues going around within our building, instead of adding fuel to the fire, we encourage our writers to examine the issue and write in a perspective that is professional and informative.
Prior Review
Fortunately, our paper is not prior reviewed. We don’t ask for permission for anything unless our advisor uses his professional judgement and deem it as the prudent thing to do; otherwise, we are able to publish articles whenever and about whomever we want.
North Penn’s Tik Tok Hall of Fame
By Jojo Dalwadi
Last year, Jojo, who was a staff reporter, wrote an article about students who became viral on Tik Tok. It was a fun and quirky student life article in which 5 students were highlighted for their social media success. Connor, our news editor at the time, asked him if he got their consent. He said no, so I had to put the article on hold. One student, in particular, did not want to be written about, so she was removed. Once we received the others’ consent to be published, the article went up.