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.