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WEST FARGO PUBLICATIONS EDITORIAL POLICY

The Packer is a student-produced newspaper published approximately every four weeks by Publications I, II, III and IV students. The publication has been established as a public forum for student expression and for the discussion of issues of concern to its audience. It will not be reviewed or restrained by school officials prior to publication or distribution.

Since The Packer is a forum for student expression, the editorial board, which consists of the staff’s top editors, will determine the content of the newspaper and all unsigned editorials; therefore, material may not necessarily reflect the opinions or policies of West Fargo High School officials. The views stated in editorials represent that of a majority of the editorial board. No single member of the editorial board can be held responsible for editorial content decisions. Signed columns or reviews represent only the opinion of the author.

The Packer welcomes letters to the editor, guest columns and news releases from faculty, administrators, community residents, students and the general public. We ask that letters to the editor and guest columns be 300 words or less, contain the author’s name and be sent to the packer@sendit.nodak.edu.

The Packer editorial board reserves the right to withhold a letter or column and return it for more information if it determines the piece contains items of unprotected speech as defined by this policy. Letters will be edited for spelling and grammar and checked for verification.

Should a letter contain errors in fact, excessive grammatical errors or be too long, it will be returned to the author for resubmission. Deadlines for letters and columns will be no later than one week before the next publication date.

Student journalists may use online media to report news and information, to communicate with other students and individuals, to ask questions of and consult with experts and to locate material to meet their newsgathering and research needs.

The Packer

and its staff are protected by and bound to the principles of the First Amendment and other protections and limitations afforded by the Constitution and the various court decisions implementing those principles. The Packer will not avoid publishing a story solely on the basis of possible dissent or controversy.

The Packer and its staff will strive to publish only legally protected speech following the legal definitions for libel, obscenity and invasion of privacy. The staff will also refrain from printing stories that create a material disruption of school activities. Specific definitions for the above instances of unprotected speech can be found in Law of the Student Press.

Because The Packer staff will determine content of the publication, it will therefore also take complete legal and financial responsibility for what is printed. Staff members will strive to correct any error before publication; however, if the editorial board determines a significant error is printed, a formal correction will appear in the following issue.

The adviser of The Packer will not act as a censor or determine the content of the paper. The adviser will offer advice and instruction, following the code of ethics set forth for advisers by the Journalism Education Association. The adviser will help the staff cover all issues in a legal, objective, accurate and ethical manner, according to the Canons of Professional Journalism developed by the Society for Professional Journalists. The Canons of Professional Journalism include a code of ethics concerning accuracy, responsibility, integrity, conflict of interest, impartiality, fair play, freedom of the press, independence, sensationalism, personal privacy, obstruction of justice, creditability and advertising.

In case questions arise over specific copy as defined within this policy, the advice of a communications attorney from the Student Press Law Center is recommended.

The Packer staff raises and pays all printing and production costs through advertising sales, subscriptions and other service projects. The Packer will accept all advertisements with signed contracts provided they do not advocate illegal activity for minors and are not racist, sexist, and/or otherwise in poor taste, as determined by the editorial board. In cases involving political advertising, efforts will be made to solicit all points of view. The ultimate decision for all advertising rests with the The Packer editorial board. The editor or co-editors shall interpret and enforce this editorial policy.

This policy will become effective immediately and remain in effect until an administrative personnel change occurs. The policy will remain posted in the publication room in its entirety. If at any time, The Packer staff is in violation of this policy, it can be reviewed and amended accordingly.

 

PUBLISHED STATEMENT – this statement will be published in every issue of The Packer

The Packer operates as a student-run publication, providing a public forum for student expression free from the practice of prior review. The Packer staff is dedicated to maintaining journalistic responsibility, reporting the truth accurately and professionally. The Packer staff understands the results of Tinker v. Des Moines in that students “do not shed their rights at the schoolhouse gate.” The role of the advisor is to educate and oversee the publication process; all decisions regarding content and coverage are directed by the student editorial board. Letters to the editor should be sent to thepacker@sendit.nodak.edu and will be edited for grammar, but content will remain the same.

 

 

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