LAW, ETHICS & NEWS LITERACY
Law & Ethics
Being editor means I am required to have a well-rounded understanding of the legal and ethical knowledge for responsible journalism. I have best demonstrated this mastery in my opinion article, "'Everyone's Story Deserves to be Told': Seeking Solidarity for LGBTQ+ Southern Students." In this article, I made sure to use reliable sources to support my argument. Some examples of reliable sources I used include the Movement Advancement Project, the Campaign for Southern Equality, the Equality Federation, and GLSEN.
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I did extensive research before starting my article so I could provide resources and percentages responsibly. When writing about real-world experiences, it is vital to provide evidence from authorities. Below is attached how I used percentages from GLSEN's 2019 school climate survey to ethically demonstrate victimization in LGBTQ+ teens.
Source used to gather percentages
For this article, I also interviewed Abby Shuler, Supportive Schools Research Associate for the Campaign for Southern Equality. Her quote addressed Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 which I was able to utilize to further my argument of hostile school environments in the South.
Conducting this article taught me the importance of responsible editorial pieces. As a journalist, I have to be fair and use trustworthy sources. Journalists are expected to be accurate at all times, so the information I gather must also be honest. I had to be courageous and intentional in reaching out to interviewees for this article while simultaneously being wary and respectful of the Freedom of Information statement by the Madison County Library System.
News Literacy
I have always been passionate about literature. From a young age, I would comb through lots of books from my personal home library. Literacy is so vital to make you a more well-rounded writer and open-minded human. Within our school, our newspaper has made it a priority to promote literacy through whatever media outlet we can.
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In our broadcasts, we have incorporated a segment deemed "Books of the Month." We take our viewers to the Pelahatchie High School library and introduce them to some titles that may pique their interest. I have interviewed our librarian as well as a few avid readers to help promote literacy among our school environment. Our librarian has reported that many more students come to the library to check out books and resources after seeing their peers promote books on the broadcast.
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Another way I try to promote news literacy is through my review writing. I encourage my school to read new book titles and expand their creativity through literature.
