21. Equipment Use Checkout Policy

Student Media Equipment Checkout Policy

I, the undersigned, agree to be bound by all stipulations listed below for checking out equipment that is the property of Richland College student media:

1. I will return the equipment to student media in full working order by the time listed on the sign-out sheet.
   
2. I will not take the equipment anywhere other than where my assignment requires me to go.
   
3. I will follow all directions regarding use of the equipment.
   
4. I agree to pay the full cost of repair or replacement of any piece of equipment that gets broken, stolen or misplaced during the time that I have it checked out in my name.
   
5. I agree that I will not transfer the equipment to another student; instead, I will return the equipment to the instructional associate, instructional specialist or adviser and direct the other student to check equipment out through them.
   
6. I agree that I will not leave any equipment in a motor vehicle for any length of time.
   
7. I understand that if the equipment is not returned by the time listed on the sign-out sheet, the Richland Police Department will be contacted for arrest and prosecution to the fullest extent of the law.
   
8. I understand that I must make prior arrangements to check out equipment and that if I fail to do so, the equipment that I may need for a class or student media assignment may be checked out by another student and may not be available.
   
9. I agree that I will not use student media equipment for personal projects that do not pertain to student media activities or assignments or approved journalism department assignments.
   

20. Staff Code of Conduct

Every Richland College student who wishes to contribute to student media must abide by the following provisions. Joining student media implies acceptance of, and agreement to abide by, these provisions. Violating any of these provisions is grounds of immedia termination from student media.

1.0 I affirm that when working in or around the Richland Chronicle and/or decoy facilities, or when engaging in any business related to student media, I will conduct myself in a professional and mature manner.

2.0 I affirm that I will not misuse any student publications equipment and agree to obey all directions regarding use of student publications equipment.

3.0 I affirm that I will not use equipment for personal or non-publication-related purposes, to include homework for classes other than publications classes.

4.0 I affirm that I will not use foul language in the student publications facilities and that my conduct will remain professional and non-argumentative.

5.0 I affirm that all disputes with other staff members will be handled in private.

6.0 I affirm that I will not conduct any student publications business or use any student publications equipment or facilities if I am under the influence of drugs or alcohol.

7.0 I understand that if I am suspected or found to be violating any college, district, local, state or federal law while conducting any student publications business or using any student publications equipment or facilities I may be turned over to law enforcement officials for investigation and possible prosecution.

8.0 I understand that if I violate any rules outlined within this policy manual or staff code of conduct or any rules imposed by an editor, the faculty adviser or instructional specialist (via verbal or written decree), I may be asked to leave the premises. I also understand that if I refuse to comply with a request to leave the premises, the Dean of Student Support Services and/or the College Police may be called to escort me from the premises.

9.0 I understand that any grievances must be documented formally through established procedures.

10.0 I agree that whenever I am acting in a capacity of a reporter or editor and am asking questions of a news figure in person or on the telephone, upon contact with that person I immediately will identify and introduce myself as a reporter or editor of the specific publication.

11.0 I, the undersigned, acknowledge that I completely understand that the editor-in-chief of the Richland Chronicle (or decoy magazine) has the sole ultimate authority over whether or not a story, photo or other submission is published in the print or web editions of the Richland Chronicle (or decoy magazine). I understand that the KDUX Web Radio station manager has the sole ultimate authority over whether or not a story, song or production is broadcast on KDUX Web Radio. I also understand that only the editor-in-chief or station manager may change my status as a contributor and/or staff member.

12.0 I understand that the faculty adviser / journalism department director, journalism faculty, instructional specialist and writing coaches have no authority to publish/broadcast or not publish/broadcast any submission whatsoever, or to influence the editor-in-chief to choose to publish or not publish any submission. I understand that no Richland College employee or faculty member has this authority, either.

13.0 I understand that the faculty adviser / journalism department director, journalism faculty, instructional specialist and writing coaches have no authority to designate or change my status as a contributor, staff member, assistant editor/senior staff member or editor. I understand that no Richland College employee or faculty member has this authority, either.

14.0 I understand that if I fail to sign this form, I will not be allowed to participate in student media in any way, shape or form until I do sign and date the form and turn it in to the editor-in-chief. I understand that “participation” includes receiving or submitting assignments, using any and all student media facilities and equipment and attending meetings.

19. Roles of Student Media professional staff

The adviser’s role is simply that, an adviser. The adviser’s primary function is to provide guidance and advice to students who run the media outlet and make the decisions. As program director, the adviser also hires and supervises the Instructional Associate/Specialist, journalism faculty and writing coaches.

He/she advises and gives guidance in teaching students to make decisions based on their best possible judgment. The adviser also defends and observes the right of the staff to make final decisions.

The adviser to student publications, therefore, must facilitate learning by educating students, administrators, colleagues and the community that the student publication serves.

The adviser is not a censor. No teacher who advises a student publication will be fired, transferred or removed from the advisership by reason of his or her refusal to exercise editorial control over the student publication or to otherwise suppress the protected free expression of student journalists.

The instructional associate/specialist is responsible for maintaining the Macintosh computers for student use. Accordingly, computers must be operated under his/her guidelines and directions to ensure proper and optimal operation and function. He/she instructs students on matters relating to computer operation and the technical aspects of word processing, desktop publishing, web design and photo imaging.

He/she manages the student publications budget. Accordingly, he/she is responsible for generating all necessary paperwork regarding purchase orders, etc., and ensuring coordination with all vendors, such as the off-site printer. Also, he/she oversees the financial aspects of the advertising department and receives any and all advertising revenues and deposits them into the proper account(s).

He/she is responsible for arranging travel to state and national conventions within the guidelines of the student publications budget.

The instructional associate/specialist reports directly and solely to the faculty adviser.

The writing coach is employed to provide assistance to any and all Richland Chronicle reporters who are writing stories. Writing coaches edit for clarity, style, grammar, spelling and punctuation. Their role is solely instructional. They do not edit for content.

Writing coaches are responsible for setting and maintaining schedules of their availability for editing students’ copy. They are discouraged from adjusting their hours to edit copy that is late.

Reporters and contributing writers are required to have their stories edited by a writing coach. Section editors are most strongly encouraged not to publish copy that has not been edited by a writing coach. The adviser and instructional associate/specialist cannot require that all copy is edited by a writing coach; only the editor-in-chief can implement and enforce a policy of requiring edits with a writing coach prior to publication.

18. Online publication of decoy

As editors of the Richland Chronicle newspaper and decoy humor magazine, we have followed self-imposed guidelines to this point to govern our print publication. With the imminent publishing of our publications on the World Wide Web, we hereby establish the following guidelines for web publication. The editors of this and future student publications at Richland College are solely responsible for enforcing these guidelines.

decoy is protected under the First Amendment of the United States of America and is privy to the right of freedom of the press. By establishing these guidelines, we are in no way surrendering our guaranteed rights to freedom of the press and freedom of speech. These guidelines have been developed because we have a responsibility to the Internet public and our community to publish material that is appropriate for its intended audience. However, decoy has been and can continue to be a vehicle to contribute to serious discussion of controversial subjects, and many articles have substantial value to add to the Internet dialogue on these subjects, and therefore should be available online. As Richland College student publications begin to publish on the Internet, it is necessary that guidelines concerning web publication be established for the humor magazine, decoy.

Because the Richland College web site is geared to a general audience, not the college/adult audience decoy targets in print, there is certain content that is not appropriate for Internet publication.

As students currently overseeing the publication of the Richland Chronicle, decoy and the Digital Chronicle, we have developed, and will be the only agents of enforcement of, the following self-governing guidelines for determining what content will and will not be published online:

Stories promoting the use of alcohol or illegal drugs will not be published on the decoy web site.

Stories that are sexually explicit will not be published in the decoy web site.

Short “tirade” articles (such as Rants and Raves), stories that advocate or allude to threats of inflicting bodily harm or threaten public safety, and fake classified ads are also prohibited in the decoy web site as we often take literary license with these sections in the print edition.

Stories that are fake and concocted for the entertainment value of the reader in the print edition are prohibited from the decoy web site, as they might be misleading.

Curse words are not allowed in the print version of decoy and henceforth are not allowed in the online version. The students who produce decoy follow the same policy as The Dallas Morning News does concerning obscenities: (“Obscenities offend many readers and often divert attention from the story,” The Dallas Morning News Stylebook.)

Pictures and or graphics that are considered adult in nature or content are also prohibited.

The editor-in-chief of the Richland Chronicle, the editor of the Digital Chronicle and the editors of decoy will work together closely to select decoy stories appropriate for Internet publication. They alone will be held responsible for the content of the decoy web site.

17. Copyright (Chronicle)

The copyright to all photographs and stories published in the Richland Chronicle and decoy print and web publications belongs solely to the Richland Chronicle and/or decoy.

The copyright to all photographs, designs and stories developed using Richland Chronicle resources (including but not limited to film, paper, computers, paid student assistant hours, technology) belong solely to the Richland Chronicle.

As Richland Chronicle budget funds are used to pay for technology, supplies and student assistant hours, all images produced and/or stored on Richland Chronicle-owned cameras, film, negatives, floppy disks, zip disks and hard drives, etc. are property of the Richland Chronicle. All stories written and/or stored on Richland Chronicle computers, floppy disks, zip disks and hard drives, etc., are property of the Richland Chronicle. All notes taken by Richland Chronicle staff members for possible Richland Chronicle stories are property of the Richland Chronicle.

The purpose of this policy is to reduce potential liability of paid and unpaid Chronicle staff. The First Amendment of the United States Constitution guarantees freedom of the press. There is legal precedent protecting the press in general and college press in particular from subpoena of notes, photographs, stories, etc. There is no legal precedent or DCCCD-sponsored legal counsel retained for the protection of the individual student from subpoena of notes, photographs, stories, etc. to which he/she owns the copyright.

In the event that another publication (newspaper, etc.) or individual party wishes to purchase a Richland Chronicle story or image for their own use, the faculty adviser must be consulted. The Richland Chronicle is not in any way opposed to any member of its staff deriving income from Richland Chronicle-related work that another newspaper or magazine wishes to publish. However, due to the many legal issues involved, the faculty adviser must always be consulted.

As the official student newspaper of Richland College, we retain legal counsel from the DCCCD attorneys. Individual students, however, if they hold copyright on photos, stories, notes, etc., surrender that legal counsel and would be responsible for their own legal representation in a court of law.

If a photographer wishes to retain copyright on photos that he or she takes, then he or she must use his or her own film and pay for all processing fees for that film. Student Publications assumes no responsibility for any legal ramifications associated with any photographs for which it does not own the copyright.

NEVER TURN OVER ANY NOTES, PHOTOGRPAHS, IMAGES, GRAPHICS, STORIES, ETC. TO A THIRD PARTY FOR ANY REASON WITHOUT PERMISSION FROM THE ADVISER. THE COPYRIGHT TO ALL PHOTOS, NEGATIVES, IMAGES, NOTES, AND STORIES, ETC. ARE OWNED SOLELY BY THE RICHLAND CHRONICLE.

16. Letters to the Editor Policy Statement (Chronicle)

The Richland Chronicle accepts letters addressed to the editor so as to reflect as many points of view as possible. We prefer letters to be word-processed and submitted on paper, but will accept letters via e-mail. E-mailed letters are held to the same guidelines as printed letters.

• Letters have priority over columns on the viewpoints page unless columns cannot be delayed.

• Letters may be from any Richland College student, faculty member or staff member and/or members of the community at large and must be accompanied by a signature and a phone number to confirm authenticity (phone number will not be published).

• Every attempt will be made to run all letters received prior to publication deadline (one week prior to publication date); however, not all letters on one topic will be printed. Those that best represent all sides of an issue will be chosen in such cases. The Editor-in-Chief and Viewpoints Editor will make selections to comply with space limitations.

• The Richland Chronicle shall publish all letters to the editor that are not obscene or libelous and do not make racial or religious denigrations. Authors shall be given the opportunity to revise unacceptable letters. The Richland Chronicle will not publish letters as literary endeavors, publicity releases, poetry, campaign pleas, or such material as the staff deems not to be a letter. All letters are to be printed with grammatical corrections and may be edited for length. Whenever possible the letter writer should be given the opportunity to reduce the length of the letter.

• Decision to publish the letter shall not be determined by the “wrongness” or “rightness” of the letter’s viewpoint as compared to the staff view.

• If a letter is submitted “as an organization,” the organization’s president must sign it.

• Letters must be signed by the author; however, initials will be used at the author’s request.

• The Richland Chronicle recognizes its position on campus as a printed medium for expressing current student opinion. Therefore, the Richland Chronicle will not become a sounding board for any pressure group. The “letters” columns shall always be conducted in as fair and responsible a manner as possible.

• Letters dealing with individuals or any matter dealing with an individual person’s behavior must be reviewed by the Editor-in-Chief and adviser or staff prior to publication.

• In order to promote diversity in subject matter, the Viewpoints page will normally limit discussion of any one subject matter to three issues of the paper.

• Any letter that appears irrelevant will be submitted to the Editor-in-Chief and adviser for acceptance or rejection.

• The purpose of the editor’s note shall be to correct inaccuracies to questions or requests for information. Editor’s notes shall be brief.

16. Letters to the Editor Policy Statement (Chronicle)

The Richland Chronicle accepts letters addressed to the editor so as to reflect as many points of view as possible. We prefer letters to be word-processed and submitted on paper, but will accept letters via e-mail. E-mailed letters are held to the same guidelines as printed letters.

• Letters have priority over columns on the viewpoints page unless columns cannot be delayed.

• Letters may be from any Richland College student, faculty member or staff member and/or members of the community at large and must be accompanied by a signature and a phone number to confirm authenticity (phone number will not be published).

• Every attempt will be made to run all letters received prior to publication deadline (one week prior to publication date); however, not all letters on one topic will be printed. Those that best represent all sides of an issue will be chosen in such cases. The Editor-in-Chief and Viewpoints Editor will make selections to comply with space limitations.

• The Richland Chronicle shall publish all letters to the editor that are not obscene or libelous and do not make racial or religious denigrations. Authors shall be given the opportunity to revise unacceptable letters. The Richland Chronicle will not publish letters as literary endeavors, publicity releases, poetry, campaign pleas, or such material as the staff deems not to be a letter. All letters are to be printed with grammatical corrections and may be edited for length. Whenever possible the letter writer should be given the opportunity to reduce the length of the letter.

• Decision to publish the letter shall not be determined by the “wrongness” or “rightness” of the letter’s viewpoint as compared to the staff view.

• If a letter is submitted “as an organization,” the organization’s president must sign it.

• Letters must be signed by the author; however, initials will be used at the author’s request.

• The Richland Chronicle recognizes its position on campus as a printed medium for expressing current student opinion. Therefore, the Richland Chronicle will not become a sounding board for any pressure group. The “letters” columns shall always be conducted in as fair and responsible a manner as possible.

• Letters dealing with individuals or any matter dealing with an individual person’s behavior must be reviewed by the Editor-in-Chief and adviser or staff prior to publication.

• In order to promote diversity in subject matter, the Viewpoints page will normally limit discussion of any one subject matter to three issues of the paper.

• Any letter that appears irrelevant will be submitted to the Editor-in-Chief and adviser for acceptance or rejection.

• The purpose of the editor’s note shall be to correct inaccuracies to questions or requests for information. Editor’s notes shall be brief.

15. Viewpoints Page Policies (Chronicle)

The Richland Chronicle enjoys wide freedom of choice of editorial topics. Freedom imposes serious responsibility. That responsibility is met when staff members investigate facts thoroughly, analyzes situations carefully, forms honest opinions, and clearly expresses itself.

Because demonstration of leadership on the viewpoints page is both the hallmark of a great newspaper and because it is one of the criteria on which awards are based, every print issue of the Richland Chronicle must have at least two editorials in each print edition. Richland Chronicle staff must write all editorials.

The viewpoints editor writes the staff editorial. Another senior writer or editor should write the other editorial(s). Editorials never are written in the first person. Editorials state the position of the newspaper staff on a particular issue. They may call for action. See The Dallas Morning News or U-Wire (www.copyboy.com) for examples of editorials.

Writing a column or editorial for the viewpoints pages is a privilege and editors and senior staff have first priority when writing columns or editorials.

Columns may be written in the first person. Column writers MUST have a current mug shot on file. This mug shot will identify the writer of the column on the web and in print.

Strong differing opinions about an editorial should be used for a point-counterpoint, or a column that dissents with a staff editorial.

The Richland Chronicle does not print profanity for profanity’s sake. Good taste and contemporary community standards shall be a guideline.

While the Richland Chronicle reserves the right to criticize, responsibility and mature judgment are expected to be brought to bear in advance. It is always best to discuss all sides before criticism is published.

Staff members must be fair and accurate and must avoid printing personal expression of limited interest.

The opinion page is the result of the effort of the entire staff, not only the Viewpoints Editor.

Columns, editorials and letters will not be jumped.

Members of the staff should keep the Viewpoints Editor supplied with copy. The Viewpoints page is not a news page and therefore cannot accept last-minute filler.

Letters have priority over columns on the Viewpoints page, unless the column is more timely.

No advertisements will be placed on the Viewpoints Page.

14. General Equipment and Facilities Use Policies

Students found to be using any student media equipment for any illegal activities, or who are suspected of stealing any such equipment, will be reported to the appropriate law enforcement officials for prosecution and will be subject to disciplinary action at the discretion of the department faculty and staff, to include suspension and/or a lifetime ban from contributing to or participating in student media at Richland College.

Students found to be using any student media equipment to create, purchase or distribute pornography will be subject to disciplinary action at the discretion of the faculty adviser, to include suspension and/or a lifetime ban from contributing to or participating in student publications at Richland College. Students are required to use all facilities and operate all equipment within the guidelines established by the instructional associate/specialist and/or faculty adviser. Students who fail to abide by this policy will be subject to disciplinary action and the discretion of the department faculty and staff. Only staff members hired by the editor-in-chief and managing editor may use student media computers, equipment and facilities. Only journalism students may use the journalism computer lab, which is open to them when classes are not scheduled between the hours of 8 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday.

Students are very strongly discouraged from bringing any children who require supervision or any animals of any kind into any student publications facilities. The faculty adviser and/or instructional associate/specialist must approve exceptions.

13. Prior Restraint

No student publication, whether non-school sponsored or official, print or electronic, will be reviewed by school officials prior to distribution or withheld from distribution. The school assumes no liability for the content of any student publication and urges all student journalists to recognize that with editorial control comes responsibility, including the responsibility to follow professional journalism standards.

No censorship of student publications will occur. Student staff may edit for content at the discretion of the editor-in-chief in consultation with the faculty adviser.

As part of the learning experience in the journalism laboratory of student publications, all copy for publication in the Richland Chronicle or decoy or broadcast on KDUX should undergo three edits with a writing coach or faculty member for instructional purposes only. These edits will be for style, grammar, spelling and form only; content will not be edited. The practice of such editing is not considered to be censorship or prior restraint, and it is at the discretion of the editor-in-chief and station manager to enforce this policy.

12. Commercial Speech

Advertising is a constitutionally protected expression. School publications may accept advertising. Acceptance or rejection of advertising is within the purview of the publication staff, which may accept any ads except for those products or services that are illegal for all students. Political ads are discouraged. The publication should not accept ads only from one side of an issue or election.

The Richland Chronicle and decoy will accept advertising that meets the following provisions:

• Does not advertise the sale or distribution of alcoholic beverages or other intoxicating substances.

• Does not advertise sexually-related products or businesses, excepting those businesses and not-for-profit organizations primarily selling or distributing products or services for birth control, the prevention of sexually transmitted diseases and counseling and services to treat medical conditions.

• Does not violate the principles of good design (i.e. printing upside down or sideways, etc.).

• Does not sell academic papers or offers to write or research academic projects for students or in any way promotes plagiarism or academic dishonesty.

• Is not libelous, misleading or in violation of postal regulations or local, state or federal law.

• Is written in English.

• All advertising must be pre-paid with credit card, cash or a check. (Ads sold for Power Buy may pay with credit card or have credit established with the UTA Shorthorn.)

• All camera-ready artwork and space reservations must be received by the established posted deadline, generally 12 noon on the Friday that is 11 days prior to the publication date.

• Ads smaller than six column inches are considered classified ads and will be placed in that section.

All advertising information for rates, discounts and specifications will be listed on a rate sheet.

11. Founding News and Editorial Policies

NOTE: THESE POLICIES WERE DEVELOPED IN 1972, BEFORE KDUX WEB RADIO BEGAN BROADCASTING. THESE POLICIES SERVE AS THE FOUNDATION FOR ALL STUDENT MEDIA IN THE TWENTY-FIRST CENTURY.

The Richland Chronicle, founded in 1972 as the Mandala (name change in 1979), is prepared primarily for the student body but directed too at the college administration, faculty, staff, the Board of Trustees, and alumni.
The Richland Chronicle, published as part of the journalism education program at Richland College, has a threefold responsibility and purpose. As a laboratory project written and edited by students, the publication: teaches students how to perform professionally on a public newspaper; prepares students to enter a four-year collee journalism program or enter the professional media; serves its readers by acting as a public forum for student expression and by performing as an example of professional journalistic endeavor.

The college, in vesting responsibility for the Richland Chronicle in a faculty adviser and the production of the newspaper to journalism students, has every right to expect the Richland Chronicle to: report fairly, accurately, and in balance the happenings, issues, and controversies at Richland College; comment constructively and fairly in editorials and interpretative stories that are based unfailingly on careful investigation of the facts; and shun, in all instances, violations of the Canons of Journalism and materials mounting personal attacks or tending to foment religious, racial, class or political prejudices.

On its part, and in the continuing interests of maintaining a realistic journalism laboratory, The Richland Chronicle expects, within the guidelines above, to reflect and to report Richland College life as it actually is.

Moreover, the columns will always be open to “rebuttals,” expressions of opinion, and comments by its readers.

The Richland Chronicle reserves the right to edit letters to the editor without changing the letter’s intent. Letters must be signed by their authors, must be in good taste, and remain in possession of the Richland Chronicle. Letters from newspaper staff members are discouraged. Names will be withheld from any letter only with the permission of the editor-in-chief in consultation with the faculty adviser. All letters will be corrected for spelling and grammar.

The Richland Chronicle is distributed to numerous campus locations. Customarily, copies are available to the administration, faculty and advertisers. All Richland Chronicle staff members are responsible for distribution.

Reporters must report only facts. False statements made by the persons interviewed should not be used unless there is a compelling reason for doing so in quoted matter privileged under Texas libel law. Writers must not give false impressions by withholding part of the facts or by coloring stories with biased emphasis. The use of tape recorders is strongly encouraged to supplement notes.

“It is the privilege, and it is the duty, of a newspaper to make prompt and complete correction of its own mistakes of fact or opinion, whatever their origin.” (Canons of Journalism of the American Society of Newspaper Editors.) When an erroneous statement is found, a correction should be printed in the next issue. If publication of such erroneous statements have damaged the name or interests of any person or persons, the Richland Chronicle should publish an apology as well as a correction.

Sources will have no access to stories prior to printing.

An interview story should not be printed in the Richland Chronicle without knowledge of the person quoted.

Whenever possible, reporters should collect facts from primary sources. Local stories appearing in daily newspapers should not be used as a source of information. If such information must be used, it should be confirmed and credited to the source. If a secondary source is used, confirmation must be obtained.

The source of information carried in the Richland Chronicle will be stated or definitively implied.

Rumor is not news generally; gossip should never be mistaken for news.

Faked news stories will not be published in the Richland Chronicle.

Suppression of news to protect self-interest is indefensible. Suppression, whenever done, should be well justified by laudable benefits to be gained.

Space limitations prohibit the publication of announcements of weddings or engagements.

Policy discourages the use of publicity for business interests in the news columns, but this does not prevent publication of legitimate news of business developments in the college community.

Staff members should place responsibility to the paper above loyalty to other organization.

Richland Chronicle editorial and news content will not be affected or influenced by advertisers or any other special-interest groups on or off campus.

Richland Chronicle staff will make every effort to avoid libelous statements. According to the American and Encyclopedia of Law, libel is: A malicious defamation expressed either by writing or printing or by signs, pictures, effigies, or the like; tending to blacken the memory of one who is dead, or impeach the honesty, integrity, virtue or reputation, or to publish the natural or alleged defects of one who is alive and thereby expose him to public hatred, contempt, ridicule or obloquy; or to cause him to be shunned or avoided, or to injure him in his office, business or occupation.

10. Plagiarism

Plagiarism is the most heinous offense in all of journalism and in education. The Richland College catalog defines Plagiarism as “the appropriating, buying, receiving as a gift, or obtaining by any means another’s work and the unacknowledged submission or incorporation of it in one’s own written work.”

Any student who plagiarizes by submitting a story, review, editorial, column, brief, photo, illustration or any other work that someone else produced and does not properly attribute the source or creator will be barred for life from participating in or contributing to any aspect of Richland College student publications at the discretion of the faculty adviser and may be referred to college officials for disciplinary action.

9. Protected Speech

School officials cannot:

• Ban speech solely because it is controversial, takes extreme, fringe minority opinions, or is distasteful, unpopular or unpleasant.

• Ban the publication or distribution of material relating to sexual issues including, but not limited to, virginity, birth control and sexually-transmitted diseases (including AIDS).

• Censor or punish the occasional use of indecent, vulgar or so-called “four-letter” words in student media.

• Prohibit criticism of the policies, practices or performance of teachers, school officials, the school itself or of any public officials.

• Cut off funds to official student media because of disagreement over editorial policy.

• Ban speech that merely advocates illegal conduct without proving that such speech is directed toward and will actually cause imminent unlawful action.

• Ban the publication or distribution of material written by non-students.

• Prohibit the school newspaper from accepting advertising.

• Prohibit the endorsement of candidates for student office or for public office at any level.

8. Avoiding Potential Conflicts of Interest

Students who are officers on the Richland College Student Government Association cannot simultaneously hold any leadership position on any student media outlet.

Students who participate in student publications in any way are responsible for notifying the Chronicle editor-in-chief and the KDUX station manager any conflicts of interest they may have with any other student clubs or organizations.

7. Legal advice

If, in the opinion of a student editor, student editorial staff or student publications adviser, material proposed for publication or broadcast may be “obscene,” “libelous” or would cause an “immediate material and substantial disruption of school activities,” a legal opinion should be sought under the direction of the faculty adviser. The service of the attorney for the local newspaper or the free legal services of the Student Press Law Center (202-466-5242) are recommended.

The student editor-in-chief will make the final decision of whether the material will be published in the Richland Chronicle, and the KDUX station manager will make the final decision of whether the material will be broadcast on KDUX Web Radio.

6. Ethical Standards

The oldest, shortest and broadest of the codes of ethics for journalists are the Canons of Journalism adopted by the American Society of Newspaper Editors in 1923. The seven canons are entitled Responsibility, Freedom of the Press, Independence, Sincerity, Truthfulness, Accuracy, Impartiality, Fair Play and Decency. The canons themselves are no more specific than their titles.

There is nothing in the Canons of Journalism that publishers need not fear, but to be on the safe side journalists should always follow the Canons. Student publications staff members are expected to adhere to the Society of Professional Journalists Code of Ethics.

5. Responsibilities of Student Journalists

Students who work on official student media determine the content within those media outlets and are responsible for that content. These students are expected to:

• Determine the content;

• Produce our publish the content based upon professional standards of accuracy, objectivity and fair play;

• Review material to improve sentence structure, grammar, spelling and punctuation;

• Check and verify all facts and verify the accuracy of all quotations;

• In the case of editorials or letter to the editor concerning controversial issues, determine the need for rebuttal comments and opinions and provide space or time if appropriate.

4. Submission and Facilities Use Policy

Students, faculty and staff who are not staff members of the official student media outlets are welcome to submit content. Student editors and directors will determine whether a particular submission will be published or broadcast based on journalistic standards. Material is subject to independent editing for style, grammar, length and accuracy. Content should be submitted directly to a student editor or director.

Because our facilities are for student media staff to work, and not for use as drop-in labs, only official student media staff may use student media facilities to produce content. All others must use other resources to produce content.

3. Policy Statement

The First Amendment of the Constitution of the United States protects students in their exercise of freedom of expression. Accordingly, college officials are responsible for ensuring freedom of expression of all students.

It is the policy of Richland College that the Richland Chronicle and decoy print and on-line publications, and KDUX Web Radio are the official, school-sponsored media outlets of Richland College have been established as forums for student expression and as voices of the uninhibited, robust, free and open discussion of issues. Each media outlet should provide a full opportunity for students to inquire, question and exchange ideas. Content should reflect all areas of student interest, including topics about which there may be dissent or controversy. Student journalists have the right to determine the content of official student publications. Accordingly, the following guidelines relate only to establishing grounds for disciplinary actions subsequent to publication.

2. Preface and Purposes of Student Media

This manual encompasses the policies and procedures for the operations of the Student Media at Richland College. The names of the publications are the Richland Chronicle and the decoy. Each publication publishes both a print edition and an on-line edition. The name of the radio station is KDUX Web Radio. Any questions about this policy manual should be directed to the faculty adviser.

The purposes of student media are as follows:

To provide instruction in the discipline of journalism and to emphasize the professional as well as the academic approach toward principles, rights and obligations of a free press in a free society: All media outlets are designed to function as closely as possible to real world media, to include the business and advertising components of publishing, and serve as a laboratory for the teaching and development of the skills of journalism.

To provide the college with a quality print and on-line newspaper, magazine and radio station: Good studentmedia reports, interprets and comments upon those events and ideas that it deems significant or that are of interest to its readers. Student media must be concerned with its publics: the student body, the administration and the faculty, and the community in hich it operates.

Meeting the needs of its publics should be the basic aim of the student-produced newspaper. This should be fundamental in the exercise of editorial judgment, in news play, content selection and editorial policy. Readers should receive a newspaper that provides accurate coverage of campus life and exhibits sound judgment and reasoning in columns and editorials. Readers deserve media that leads, informs, instructs and entertains, with truth, fairness and accuracy foremost in the production of that newspaper.

Student media reserves the right to criticize, to question and to evaluate, and assumes responsibility for accuracy and completeness of all criticism. Constructive criticism thoughtfully prepared and respectfully presented is basic to freedom of the college press.

Student media realizes that the exercise of freedom entails a heavy burden of responsibility. That responsibility must include not only the right to print or broadcast, but also the right not to print or broadcast, for student media realizes that, at least in part, the reputation of the students, the institution and the faculty can be shaped by student media.

Student media staff may make mistakes, but not without benefiting from those mistakes and full realization that it is responsible for those mistakes.

1. Student Media Mission Statement

Richland College Student Media offers students opportunities to develop and augment skills learned in mass communications courses by allowing students to publish the Richland Chronicle student newspaper and the decoy magazine in print and electronically, broadcast audio on KDUX web radio, and to produce video and audio content for broadcasting via the airwaves, cable and the Internet.