The wrestling coach learns that the student newspaper is planning to
print an action picture of one of his wrestlers in a match that he lost.
The wrestling coach summons the photographer and demands that the photo
she took not be used The picture shows the two wrestlers in an upright
position with neither at an advantage. However, the winning wrestler
from the visiting school is a girl.
1. Should you ever run a photo of a home team wrestler losing to an opponent?
No, because he represents your school and not only would you be making the school look bad but also the team and player.
2. What if the photo doesn’t show the opponent having the advantage?
No, it still would be bad and it would be showing the wrestler that lost.
3. What if the match is for the state championship?
If it is for the championship then you still should not run a photo of your team losing in action, but it would be ok to write about it and use a picture that does not have to do with a player being beatin.
4. Should the fact that the victor is a girl have any relevancy?
There should be no difference on who beat the player but the wrestler may not like the fact that he lost to a girl and that might change how some people feel.
5. Should the photographer or editor be at all concerned that the photo
could be particularly embarrassing to the boy who was defeated by the
girl?
Yes because if the player who lost is embarrassed then he wouldn't want anybody to know and nobody know what the actions may be from the player.
6. Should the newspaper alow a coach to censor a photograph?
If the coach talked with the newspaper writers about an unwanted photo and they decided to delete it then it would be alright.
7. How should the newspaper respond to the coach’s attempt to censor the photograph?
The newspaper should keep their passage but also tell the coach to talk with them about the article.
8. What may be the consequences if the photo is run? If it is not run?
If the photo is run the boy might be embarrassed along with the team and people may be angry at him. If it isn't the coach may be grateful and not as much attention may go towards the team.
Two months after being elected homecoming king, a student is expelled for stealing science equipment.
1. Should this story be covered in the student newspaper?
No because a lot of attention will be on him and he will be embarrassed.
2. Since expulsion hearings are held in executive session of the board
of education and students are not identified to the public by name, how
could such a story be covered without the risk of libel?
The article could talk about the missing equipment and say no names of anybody involved.
3. When is the newspaper justified in printing the names of students involved in incidents of discipline or crime?
The newspaper should not be putting names in it just in case a student does not want attention.
4. What should be the criteria for covering such stories?
No attacking or calling out a student by name.
A columnist for the student newspaper said he witnessed the
principal physically removing a student (for misconduct) from the stands
at a football game. Although the student was obeying the principal’s
request to get up and leave, the columnist said the principal grabbed
the student by the arm, embarrassing him in front of his peers. The
columnist writes an opinion piece on the incident, personally attacking
the principal for his poor judgment in “manhandling” a student. The
principal denies he used physical force.
1. As editor, do you allow the columnist editorial freedom to personally attack the principal for using poor judgment?
2. To the editor’s knowledge, the principal had never before been
accused of being physical in administering discipline. Should that fact
have any relevancy about how this story should be handled?
3. Should the editor require the columnist to “tone down” his article? What could be the advantages and disadvantages of editing the article in
a way that would tone down the personal nature of the attacks on the
principal?
4. Would other teachers and school staff members feel threatened that
if they made a simple mistake, they would be criticized in the
newspaper?
5. When is criticism of an administrator or teacher justified in the student newspaper? When is it not?
