Understanding my Rights
Understanding my rights as a student journalist in Iowa has been essential throughout my time working for The Spartan Shield, especially when faced with challenges to my reporting. As a journalist in a state that upholds strong protections for student free speech under the Iowa Student Free Expression Law, and in the homeland of the groundbreaking Supreme Court case Tinker v. Des Moines no less, I stand firm in my right to publish stories that matter to my community, even if they address controversial topics.
This understanding became particularly important when I came under scrutiny from community figures for an article I wrote about Iowa's book ban legislation at the beginning of the 2023-2024 school year. While I approached the topic with fairness and a commitment to truth, some readers, including influential community members, privately criticized my work, accusing me of bias and misrepresentation. Despite the backlash, I stood firm in the knowledge that my rights protect my ability to report on such issues.
The experience underscored the importance of knowing and exercising my rights as a student journalist, as well as the responsibility that comes with them. Facing criticism only reinforced my commitment to ethical reporting and my belief in the role of journalism as a tool for accountability and dialogue. Being able to report freely, even in the face of opposition, is not just a right—it’s a privilege I use to advocate for transparency and the exchange of ideas in my community.
This understanding became particularly important when I came under scrutiny from community figures for an article I wrote about Iowa's book ban legislation at the beginning of the 2023-2024 school year. While I approached the topic with fairness and a commitment to truth, some readers, including influential community members, privately criticized my work, accusing me of bias and misrepresentation. Despite the backlash, I stood firm in the knowledge that my rights protect my ability to report on such issues.
The experience underscored the importance of knowing and exercising my rights as a student journalist, as well as the responsibility that comes with them. Facing criticism only reinforced my commitment to ethical reporting and my belief in the role of journalism as a tool for accountability and dialogue. Being able to report freely, even in the face of opposition, is not just a right—it’s a privilege I use to advocate for transparency and the exchange of ideas in my community.
Upholding Journalistic Ethics
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Upholding journalistic ethics is a necessity for any piece of journalism to be respected. While I have the right to report freely as a student journalist, with that right comes the responsibility to do so with integrity, accuracy and fairness. Journalism isn’t just about telling stories—it’s about doing so in a way that earns and maintains trust. That’s why I prioritize verifying facts, presenting diverse perspectives and avoiding bias in my reporting.
As Editor-in-Chief, I see it as my duty not only to follow these ethical principles but also to lead my staff in upholding them. I work closely with my team to ensure our stories are well-researched, balanced and respectful. We regularly discuss ethical dilemmas, from how to handle sensitive topics to ensuring sources are treated with care and transparency. These conversations help us navigate the complexities of our work and hold ourselves to the highest standards. For example, when pieces become overly opinionated, I often ask that they be moved to the opinion section as to not appear biased. Refraining from coming off as biased is difficult as a passionate activist, but it is a necessity that my staff and I remove as much personal opinion from our work as possible. I also ensure that my staff cites their sources and photos responsibly, targeting this exact issue on page 15 on my handbook. It is important that our staff sources their own photos and interviews, and properly cites those that they do not source themselves. Rights without responsibility lose their power, and it’s through ethical practices that we ensure our work remains credible, impactful, and worthy of the freedoms we’re privileged to have. |
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Handling Breaches of Journalistic Integrity
As much as I strive to uphold journalistic ethics in my work, I understand that nobody can start out as a perfect journalist—it’s a skill we build together as a team. That became clear when I discovered that a staff member had fabricated quotes for an article about immigration within the PV district. While this was a serious breach of journalistic integrity, I saw it as an opportunity to teach and reinforce the importance of ethical reporting.
I sat down with the writer to explain the repercussions of their actions, emphasizing that those fabricated quotes misrepresented her peers, damaged our credibility as a student paper and created a risk for legal consequences like defamation lawsuits against The Spartan Shield. Together, we revisited the basics of source attribution, ethical standards and the importance of honesty in journalism.
While I knew I could not ethically allow the writer to rewrite the article after her attempt to fabricate quotes, it was still a valuable learning opportunity to emphasize the importance of honest reporting. This issue opened a dialogue that helped my staff feel more comfortable asking for help if they were struggling to meet deadlines or conduct interviews, reducing the temptation to cut corners.
This experience reinforced my belief that upholding journalistic integrity requires both accountability and a commitment to growth—for myself and my staff. Mistakes happen, but it’s how we address and learn from them that defines our success as journalists.
I sat down with the writer to explain the repercussions of their actions, emphasizing that those fabricated quotes misrepresented her peers, damaged our credibility as a student paper and created a risk for legal consequences like defamation lawsuits against The Spartan Shield. Together, we revisited the basics of source attribution, ethical standards and the importance of honesty in journalism.
While I knew I could not ethically allow the writer to rewrite the article after her attempt to fabricate quotes, it was still a valuable learning opportunity to emphasize the importance of honest reporting. This issue opened a dialogue that helped my staff feel more comfortable asking for help if they were struggling to meet deadlines or conduct interviews, reducing the temptation to cut corners.
This experience reinforced my belief that upholding journalistic integrity requires both accountability and a commitment to growth—for myself and my staff. Mistakes happen, but it’s how we address and learn from them that defines our success as journalists.
News Literacy
Everyone should stay informed, whether it’s about global events or happenings in their own community. Personally, I make an effort to stay up-to-date by reading and listening to trusted news sources. My go-to podcasts include The Daily from The New York Times and NPR’s Up First. For written news, I turn to The New York Times, The Washington Post and The Atlantic for comprehensive national and global coverage, while also keeping an eye on my local paper, The Quad-City Times, for community stories. Staying informed is essential for understanding the world and contributing to meaningful conversations.
