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DRAFT
Journalistic Task Force
Recommendations
Vision
The Task Force on
Journalistic Integrity
and Responsibility
recognizes that student
newspapers are
remarkable sources of
information and ideas
for and about the
university community and
provide an exceptional
laboratory for students
interested in learning
about journalism. We
also believe that the
quality of the newspaper
and the quality of the
learning experience will
be best improved when
students are provided
opportunities to become
well versed in a range
of professional issues,
perhaps most
importantly.
-
Editorial judgment
and accountability
-
First Amendment
issues
-
Libel
-
Cultural competence
regarding issues of
race, gender, class,
religion, ethnicity,
sexuality, and other
socio-cultural
dynamics
-
The ethics of
journalism
Recommendations for
Action
The Task Force
recommends that the
relevant offices and
departments of the
University:
1. Encourage
the editors of The
Recorder to organize
training on
socio-cultural
sensitivity to its
readership and the
impact of its stories on
diverse populations.
2. Encourage
the Media Board to
allocate sufficient
funds to the Recorder so
that all editors and
faculty advisors can
attend conferences
during the year on the
issues involved in
running student
newspapers.
3. Organize
a series of events on
the ethics of
professional journalism
and cultural competence
regarding issues of
race, gender, class,
religion, ethnicity,
sexuality, and other
socio-cultural dynamics
(perhaps based on the
Society of Professional
Journalists Code of
Ethics). These events
could draw on expertise
from CCSU alumni, the
Journalism faculty in
the English Department,
Communication faculty,
in collaboration with
the Center for Public
Policy and Social
Research, Student
Activities and
Leadership Development,
and the Media Board.
4. Invite
speakers and experts
from other institutions
to give lectures on
media ethics. For
example, the University
of Minnesota School of
Journalism and Mass
Communication runs the
Silha Center for the
Study of Media Ethics
and Law which is an
excellent resource for
these issues.
5. Continue
to explore increasing
placements via
journalism and
communication internship
courses utilizing
existing alumni
networks.
6. Consider
adding a journalism
major to our curriculum
or at least increasing
the number of journalism
courses available to
students. Approximately
55 CCSU students have
minors in Journalism. A
host of media outlets –
NBC 30, ESPN, Hartford
Courant, New Britain
Herald, and WTIC radio
are located within 20
minutes of campus.
7. To
help recruit student
editors, consider
increasing their
stipends from the
current level of $1800
per semester with a
$3000 annual cap or
giving them course
credit.
8. Offer
load credits or
financial compensation
for faculty newspaper
advisors.
9. Encourage
student editors to have
taken or be enrolled in
Journalism I.
10. Add
a graduate intern to
assist the newspaper
advisor.
11. Consider
purchasing libel
insurance for The
Recorder, its staff and
its advisors.
12. Encourage
all editors to attend a
media professional
development workshop,
perhaps an independent
study for academic
credit offered each
summer.
13. Encourage
the Media Board to take
a more active role in
helping to recruit a
wide range of voices for
The Recorder.
Invitation for Your
Comments
The Task Force solicits
your comments and
recommendations as we
develop our final draft.
Please send them via the
link on the navigation
bar:
Contact the Task Force.
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