2008 Woodie Awards
Editorial
Your student newspaper is a forum for the many, not a pulpit for the few
Ledger Editors
Issue date: 4/10/08 Section: Opinion
In past years, a substantial portion in the Ledger's first issue of spring quarter has been devoted to Professor Chris Demaske's study abroad course in Russia with a few UWT students. This year, we're not publishing it.
As the editors we believe that it would be a violation of journalistic ethics and of the Ledger's mission statement to devote a large portion of our publication to a project that impacts so few UWT students. In the interest of serving our readers, we want to explain that decision here.
Demaske, a Communication professor who served as the chairwoman of the Ledger's advisory board, organized a study abroad trip to Russia, where UWT Communication students work with journalism students at Moscow State University. The students participating in the study abroad class are not required to be Ledger staff members. During their visit over Spring Break, the students collaborated with MSU students to create an issue of a newspaper called The Zhurnalist.
In past years the Ledger has published a joint Ledger/Zhurnalist issue. We can't speak to why past editors chose to do so, because the editorial positions then were held by students no longer on staff.
The Ledger's current editorial staff met with Demaske in March, about a week before she and her students departed, to hear her pitch about why we should include Zhurnalist content. We listened to the expectations Demaske shared with us about the role of the Ledger.
We initially considered giving the Russia project a center spread, which seemed like ample space to showcase the articles written by UWT and Russian students. We thought that it could be a good spring board for a recurring feature on different students' studies abroad. During the meeting, Demaske told us they wanted at least four pages in our eight-page newspaper, but preferably eight pages in a 16-page issue. (Each issue of the Ledger during the 2007-2008 academic year thus far has been eight pages.) The Ledger would be expected to foot the bill for printing.
Demaske was clear about her vision of the joint project, asking for four to eight pages devoted solely to the Russia study abroad class's work. During the course of the meeting, we heard her plan, cited our concerns about the ethics, and then told her we would think about it. Our biggest concern was serving our readers. In other words, we would treat their submissions just like any other story submissions.
At the meeting Demaske said the Ledger and the Communication department have in the past enjoyed a reciprocal relationship.
Demaske also brought up that she and Communication professor Bill Kunz have defended the Ledger and its publication manager three times with the Student Activities Fees Committee.
Should we choose not to print the Russia content, Demaske said, it would be unfortunate if the Communication department and the Ledger had to cut ties.
These remarks surprised us. As journalists, we have a duty to remain as unbiased as possible and to operate outside of favors and implied obligations. We listened as a respected journalism professor suggested that our obligation was to do what the Communication department wants.
It's important to note that the Ledger is not funded through the Communication department. The SAFC provides most of the Ledger's budget, supplemented by a small chunk of funding gained from advertising. The SAFC allocates money from Services and Activities Fees, which are paid by each enrolled UWT student every quarter. According to the SAFC Web site, the 2007-2008 fee is $113 per student per quarter. The Ledger is just one of many student organizations that benefit from these fees.
Although the Ledger is a student newspaper on a relatively small campus, we do operate like a professional newspaper, adhering to professional ethics guidelines. The Ledger is an independent student newspaper. By "independent," we mean the newspaper is not beholden or obligated to any department of the university. It is funded through student fees, just like other student organizations. The Ledger's main responsibility is to serve the student body by publishing stories that are important to our readers.
The mission statement of the Ledger, written more than two years ago, is clear: "To publish a forum of news, opinion and creative expression for UWT students and the campus community while maintaining the highest ethics and standards of journalism." One of our guiding principles is: "The Ledger will strive to be a forum for the many, not a pulpit for the few." The Ledger editors are committed to publishing the paper without coercion or intimidation from faculty, administration, or others who would control the flow of information for their own comfort or convenience.
In the case of Demaske and the Russia study abroad class, by requesting that the Ledger devote eight pages of content to one study abroad, they were in effect asking to use student fees to pay for a class activity. The editors feel we should responsibly use students' money allocated to us through the SAFC.
The Ledger staff, like many newspaper staffs in the industry, abides by the code of ethics provided by the Society of Professional Journalists. According to SPJ's Campus Media Statement: "Student media are designated public forums, and free from censorship and advance approval of content... Administrators, faculty, staff or other agents shall not consider the student media's content when making decisions regarding the media's funding or faculty adviser."
The SPJ code of ethics clearly states: "Journalists should be free of obligation to any interest other than the public's right to know. Journalists should deny favored treatment to advertisers and special interests and resist their pressure to influence news coverage."
In our efforts to ensure that we were making the correct, ethical decision, we contacted SPJ's campus advisers, as well as the Student Press Law Center. Adam Goldstein, an Attorney Advocate for the SPLC, told us there was no legal aspect to our dilemma, but it's within our rights to refuse to guarantee content.
Neil Ralston, an SPJ campus adviser, told us our decision on what goes into the paper should be based on what our audience wants or needs, not on a professor's "desire to promote her program."
Ralston also reminded the Ledger editors that "administrators and faculty cannot legally use threats… in an attempt to control the content of an independent student paper."
Mead Loop, another SPJ campus adviser, noted that "the real story isn't a Russia trip but an attempt to dictate content."
We met with Demaske on March 13, and we notified her of our decision on March 17. We said, "The editorial board has discussed the Russia issue at great length, and right now we can offer only an agreement to look at the content when the students come back. We don't want to promise anything, but we're not rejecting anything, either."
We may still use stories from the Russia trip if they are submitted to us. We object to using a Ledger/Zhurnalist flag or nameplate, or guaranteeing space without seeing content.
On Wednesday afternoon we notified Demaske that we were going to print an editorial about our decision not to guarantee content. Less than half an hour later she resigned from her position on the Ledger's advisory board.
As the editors we believe that it would be a violation of journalistic ethics and of the Ledger's mission statement to devote a large portion of our publication to a project that impacts so few UWT students. In the interest of serving our readers, we want to explain that decision here.
Demaske, a Communication professor who served as the chairwoman of the Ledger's advisory board, organized a study abroad trip to Russia, where UWT Communication students work with journalism students at Moscow State University. The students participating in the study abroad class are not required to be Ledger staff members. During their visit over Spring Break, the students collaborated with MSU students to create an issue of a newspaper called The Zhurnalist.
In past years the Ledger has published a joint Ledger/Zhurnalist issue. We can't speak to why past editors chose to do so, because the editorial positions then were held by students no longer on staff.
The Ledger's current editorial staff met with Demaske in March, about a week before she and her students departed, to hear her pitch about why we should include Zhurnalist content. We listened to the expectations Demaske shared with us about the role of the Ledger.
We initially considered giving the Russia project a center spread, which seemed like ample space to showcase the articles written by UWT and Russian students. We thought that it could be a good spring board for a recurring feature on different students' studies abroad. During the meeting, Demaske told us they wanted at least four pages in our eight-page newspaper, but preferably eight pages in a 16-page issue. (Each issue of the Ledger during the 2007-2008 academic year thus far has been eight pages.) The Ledger would be expected to foot the bill for printing.
Demaske was clear about her vision of the joint project, asking for four to eight pages devoted solely to the Russia study abroad class's work. During the course of the meeting, we heard her plan, cited our concerns about the ethics, and then told her we would think about it. Our biggest concern was serving our readers. In other words, we would treat their submissions just like any other story submissions.
At the meeting Demaske said the Ledger and the Communication department have in the past enjoyed a reciprocal relationship.
Demaske also brought up that she and Communication professor Bill Kunz have defended the Ledger and its publication manager three times with the Student Activities Fees Committee.
Should we choose not to print the Russia content, Demaske said, it would be unfortunate if the Communication department and the Ledger had to cut ties.
These remarks surprised us. As journalists, we have a duty to remain as unbiased as possible and to operate outside of favors and implied obligations. We listened as a respected journalism professor suggested that our obligation was to do what the Communication department wants.
It's important to note that the Ledger is not funded through the Communication department. The SAFC provides most of the Ledger's budget, supplemented by a small chunk of funding gained from advertising. The SAFC allocates money from Services and Activities Fees, which are paid by each enrolled UWT student every quarter. According to the SAFC Web site, the 2007-2008 fee is $113 per student per quarter. The Ledger is just one of many student organizations that benefit from these fees.
Although the Ledger is a student newspaper on a relatively small campus, we do operate like a professional newspaper, adhering to professional ethics guidelines. The Ledger is an independent student newspaper. By "independent," we mean the newspaper is not beholden or obligated to any department of the university. It is funded through student fees, just like other student organizations. The Ledger's main responsibility is to serve the student body by publishing stories that are important to our readers.
The mission statement of the Ledger, written more than two years ago, is clear: "To publish a forum of news, opinion and creative expression for UWT students and the campus community while maintaining the highest ethics and standards of journalism." One of our guiding principles is: "The Ledger will strive to be a forum for the many, not a pulpit for the few." The Ledger editors are committed to publishing the paper without coercion or intimidation from faculty, administration, or others who would control the flow of information for their own comfort or convenience.
In the case of Demaske and the Russia study abroad class, by requesting that the Ledger devote eight pages of content to one study abroad, they were in effect asking to use student fees to pay for a class activity. The editors feel we should responsibly use students' money allocated to us through the SAFC.
The Ledger staff, like many newspaper staffs in the industry, abides by the code of ethics provided by the Society of Professional Journalists. According to SPJ's Campus Media Statement: "Student media are designated public forums, and free from censorship and advance approval of content... Administrators, faculty, staff or other agents shall not consider the student media's content when making decisions regarding the media's funding or faculty adviser."
The SPJ code of ethics clearly states: "Journalists should be free of obligation to any interest other than the public's right to know. Journalists should deny favored treatment to advertisers and special interests and resist their pressure to influence news coverage."
In our efforts to ensure that we were making the correct, ethical decision, we contacted SPJ's campus advisers, as well as the Student Press Law Center. Adam Goldstein, an Attorney Advocate for the SPLC, told us there was no legal aspect to our dilemma, but it's within our rights to refuse to guarantee content.
Neil Ralston, an SPJ campus adviser, told us our decision on what goes into the paper should be based on what our audience wants or needs, not on a professor's "desire to promote her program."
Ralston also reminded the Ledger editors that "administrators and faculty cannot legally use threats… in an attempt to control the content of an independent student paper."
Mead Loop, another SPJ campus adviser, noted that "the real story isn't a Russia trip but an attempt to dictate content."
We met with Demaske on March 13, and we notified her of our decision on March 17. We said, "The editorial board has discussed the Russia issue at great length, and right now we can offer only an agreement to look at the content when the students come back. We don't want to promise anything, but we're not rejecting anything, either."
We may still use stories from the Russia trip if they are submitted to us. We object to using a Ledger/Zhurnalist flag or nameplate, or guaranteeing space without seeing content.
On Wednesday afternoon we notified Demaske that we were going to print an editorial about our decision not to guarantee content. Less than half an hour later she resigned from her position on the Ledger's advisory board.
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