Discussion drawn from an interview with Emily Smith, adviser of a high school newspaper who uncovered fraud by their new principal: https://www.nytimes.com/2017/04/05/us/high-school-journalists-principal-quits.html?_r=0
On May 26th, I participated in an interview with Emily Smith, a journalism adviser in Pittsburg, KS. Earlier this semester, her newspaper staff's investigation led to the discovery of fraud by their new principal, and subsequently, the new principal's resignation. Ms. Smith's experience and actions provide an example for other advisers. I've listed some of the advice she offers in the wake of this experience and suggestions I have created based on the actions she has taken and the actions I may have to take as an adviser.
1) Use your resources
When Ms. Smith and her students stumbled across an enormous local scandal, they consulted a vast variety of sources for information and advice to help them handle the issue. Ms. Smith approached other teachers, journalists, family members, her union rep, and the SPLC before even publishing the controversial article. Advisers are not left alone to flip a coin in tough spots like Ms. Smith was in. By being aware of the people who can help negotiate difficult situations, and asking for their assistance, a positive outcome is much more likely.
2) Ask permission, use personal accounts/devices, don't delete anything
Ms. Smith's students have developed a number of good practices that help them to protect themselves and their sources from censorship and/or litigation. First of all, they always ask for permission to record interviews, so that they can reference the information directly later on, and they have proof of everything that is said in case their articles are called into question. Secondly, they use personal email accounts and devices for their interviews, so they are not subject to seizure by school administration. Finally, they archive information, storing it instead of throwing it away. These little steps can make all the difference if controversy arises.
3) Encourage students to act professionally
When the truth finally came out, and all eyes were on Ms. Smith and her students, and as she said to them, they could have whined about how mean the superintendent was to them during their investigation and ruined his career, or they could take the high road and act like professionals, acknowledging the ways he did support them. The truth is always important, but as journalists we also have to keep in mind the impact our work has on the people we write and talk about. The students had already revealed the truth and the principal had resigned. It would be cruel and unnecessary to tell national publications everything Mr. Brown had done to cover up the fraud, because it would publicly shame him and most likely result in his immediate termination. Instead, they took the high road, and stepped back for other professionals to look into who was at fault for the scandal. In this vein, we should always remind our own students that with their great power, freedom of the press, comes great responsibility. They need to take responsibility for their words and actions.
4) Communicate with administration
Advisers are obligated to serve both students and administration simultaneously, which can sometimes create enormous conflict and put advisers in a very difficult situation. However, just as Ms. Smith did, we should always keep our administrators informed, allowing them to prepare for the discussion of controversial topics. When our students criticize administration, administration should have the chance to comment as well, to promote balanced storytelling. Furthermore, we need to look out for ourselves, legally and professionally, and keeping up a constant line of communication with administrators is one way to ensure that we can do so, and remind administrators that we're not "on the other side."
5) Let the students make decisions and ask questions
While still maintaining administrators' trust, we have to treat our students like the growing professionals that they are, and give them the chance to explore and develop. Ms. Smith says advisers should be "a guide on the side, not a sage on the stage." We should help them find the truth and see the consequences of their actions, but ultimately, we create STUDENT publications, and what they write has their names on it, not ours. We don't teach for glory, but for the students. They are the future.
6) Maintain positive relationships
As Ms. Smith says, a journalist is nothing without their connections. If we disrespect someone in the school community, they'll be unlikely to help us out with information, time, or energy ever again. Being friendly to everyone, from lunchladies to secretaries to administrators, makes the difference between building up a community network, and becoming an outcast. We have to live and work with other teachers/staff members for years, sometimes decades, and taking the time to be kind and respectful can exponentially improve our workplace experience, and the quality of our student publications.
1) Use your resources
When Ms. Smith and her students stumbled across an enormous local scandal, they consulted a vast variety of sources for information and advice to help them handle the issue. Ms. Smith approached other teachers, journalists, family members, her union rep, and the SPLC before even publishing the controversial article. Advisers are not left alone to flip a coin in tough spots like Ms. Smith was in. By being aware of the people who can help negotiate difficult situations, and asking for their assistance, a positive outcome is much more likely.
2) Ask permission, use personal accounts/devices, don't delete anything
Ms. Smith's students have developed a number of good practices that help them to protect themselves and their sources from censorship and/or litigation. First of all, they always ask for permission to record interviews, so that they can reference the information directly later on, and they have proof of everything that is said in case their articles are called into question. Secondly, they use personal email accounts and devices for their interviews, so they are not subject to seizure by school administration. Finally, they archive information, storing it instead of throwing it away. These little steps can make all the difference if controversy arises.
3) Encourage students to act professionally
When the truth finally came out, and all eyes were on Ms. Smith and her students, and as she said to them, they could have whined about how mean the superintendent was to them during their investigation and ruined his career, or they could take the high road and act like professionals, acknowledging the ways he did support them. The truth is always important, but as journalists we also have to keep in mind the impact our work has on the people we write and talk about. The students had already revealed the truth and the principal had resigned. It would be cruel and unnecessary to tell national publications everything Mr. Brown had done to cover up the fraud, because it would publicly shame him and most likely result in his immediate termination. Instead, they took the high road, and stepped back for other professionals to look into who was at fault for the scandal. In this vein, we should always remind our own students that with their great power, freedom of the press, comes great responsibility. They need to take responsibility for their words and actions.
4) Communicate with administration
Advisers are obligated to serve both students and administration simultaneously, which can sometimes create enormous conflict and put advisers in a very difficult situation. However, just as Ms. Smith did, we should always keep our administrators informed, allowing them to prepare for the discussion of controversial topics. When our students criticize administration, administration should have the chance to comment as well, to promote balanced storytelling. Furthermore, we need to look out for ourselves, legally and professionally, and keeping up a constant line of communication with administrators is one way to ensure that we can do so, and remind administrators that we're not "on the other side."
5) Let the students make decisions and ask questions
While still maintaining administrators' trust, we have to treat our students like the growing professionals that they are, and give them the chance to explore and develop. Ms. Smith says advisers should be "a guide on the side, not a sage on the stage." We should help them find the truth and see the consequences of their actions, but ultimately, we create STUDENT publications, and what they write has their names on it, not ours. We don't teach for glory, but for the students. They are the future.
6) Maintain positive relationships
As Ms. Smith says, a journalist is nothing without their connections. If we disrespect someone in the school community, they'll be unlikely to help us out with information, time, or energy ever again. Being friendly to everyone, from lunchladies to secretaries to administrators, makes the difference between building up a community network, and becoming an outcast. We have to live and work with other teachers/staff members for years, sometimes decades, and taking the time to be kind and respectful can exponentially improve our workplace experience, and the quality of our student publications.