establishing student media policy

A D V I S E R S ’ G U I D E T O E S TA B L I S H I N G P O L I C I E SB Y B R A D L E Y W I L S O N , P H . D . M I D W E S T E R N S TA T E U N I V E R S I T Y

G U I D E L I N E S

• Keep it general

• Keep it helpful • To whom does it apply? • When does it apply? • Conditions/restrictions • Context/history

G U I D E L I N E S

• Process • Gather background information.

• Draft language.

• Conduct a review with stakeholders.

• Get approval.

• Communicate policy to present and future stakeholders.

• Evaluate.

C O S T / B E N E F I T A N A LY S I S

• Why do you need to have a new or revised policy?

• What is the problem or issue(s) that made you realize you need a policy?

• Why hasn’t this policy existed in the past?

• How would a policy assist faculty, staff and/or students within your operation?

• How will your policy clarify how you run your operation?

• Will there be any costs be involved in implementing this policy?

S TA F F M A N U A L

• Policies

• Job descriptions

• Style

• Training material

• Testimonials

• Case studies

PART OF THE STUDENT MEDIA FAMILY INCLUDINGAGROMECK • AMERICANA • NUBIAN MESSAGE • TECHNICIAN • WKNC 88.1FM • WINDHOVER

AgromeckTHE OFFICIAL YEARBOOK OF NORTH CAROLINA STATE UNIVERSITY

Staff Manual Student Media

Style Guide

PART OF THE STUDENT MEDIA FAMILY INCLUDINGAGROMECK •AMERICANA • NUBIAN MESSAGE • TECHNICIAN • WKNC 88.1FM • WINDHOVER

WKNC 88.1 FMSTUDENT RADIO AT NORTH CAROLINA STATE UNIVERSITY

Training Manual

THIS MANUAL BELONGS TO


• Policies


• Style


• Testimonials

• Case studies

P O L I C I E S

• Advertising (rejection, political)

• Anonymous sources

• Attribution

• Conflict of interest

• Copyright

• Corrections

• Digital manipulation

• Discipline

• Emergencies (business continuity)

• Equipment usage

• Code of ethics

• Free / discounted yearbooks/subscriptions/advertising

• Keys

• Letters to the editor

• Non-student involvement

• Obituary

• Online comments

• Payroll

• Portraits

• Refunds

• Removal of online material

• Social media

• Victim identification

B R A D L E Y W I L S O N O N L I N E . N E T

C O R R E C T I O N S

OVERVIEW All Student Media are obligated to correct any error they make as soon as possible, no matter the level of consequence for the error. The corrections should be in a fixed, consistent location in the publication. The absence of such corrections calls into question a medium’s ability to call itself a public forum.

PROCEDURE • Document the error with

the source, the reporter(s) and editor(s) involved.

• Determine whether a clarification or correction is warranted.

• Publish a clarification or correction as soon as possible, usually the next day.

• Follow up with a phone call and written communication from the editor to the source(s) in question.

RESPONSIBILITY The editor is responsible • for publishing written

correction of all errors; and

• for publishing a summary of errors in the monthly report to the board.

C O R R E C T I O N S

FORM Although the specifics may vary depending on the circumstances, in general, a correction will take the form: “In ‘<headline>’ (p. <#>, <date>), the <name of publication> <correction without restating the error when possible>. <Name of publication> regrets the error.”

When a source believes he or she has been misquoted or otherwise attributed to mis-statements, but he editor, after consultation with the reporter, believes the published statement were correct, a clarification may take the general form: “In ‘<headline>’ (p. <#>, <date>), <name of publication> <what we said.> In subsequent interviews with <sources>, they state <what they now state>. The <name of publication> stands behind the original publication.

When a correction or clarification is made online to a story that appeared in print, the publication will note that in an editor’s note to appear at the top of the online version of the articles. “Information in this article, originally published <date> has been corrected. State correction without restating error when possible.”

C O P Y R I G H T

Ownership of images

In accordance with Student Media policy and the work-for-hire clauses of the United State Copyright Law, Student Media owns all images taken on assignment for the Student Media.

This does NOT prevent a student photographer from taking pictures on their own, using their own equipment, for profit. It does NOT prevent a student photographer from publishing photos they have taken on their own Web site for portfolio or contest purposes or otherwise displaying them for portfolio or contest purposes.

It DOES prevent a photographer from releasing any photos taken while on assignment from Student Media – as indicated above – before they are published (or refused publication) in the Student Media.

The Student Media retains exclusive rights to publish in any form photographs taken while on assignment or published in a student media for a period of 18 months. After that, the photographer and Student Media share copyright and both may publish as desired.

P H O T O C R E D I T S

FORM • For staff photo: Lauren Roberts / The Wichitan

• For submitted photo: Photo contributed by Jack Doe, used with permission, ©2014

• For photo with Creative Commons license: Photo contributed by Sharon Newsom, CC2014

• For movie still: Photo by Ethan Pitzer, Paramount Studios, used with permission

• For movie still: Photo by Sam Croft, used with permission

• For movie still: Photo courtesy Paramount Studios, used with permission

• For video clip: Video from “The Movie,” courtesy 20th Century Fox, used with permission


• Policies


• Style


• Testimonials

• Case studies




Style Guide



Training Manual


J O B D E S C R I P T I O N S


All staff members • All regular student employees of the Student Media shall maintain at least a 2.00 grade point

average. Student leaders must maintain a 2.50.

• At the time of their candidacy or appointment to a higher office or at any point in the semester,

the media adviser may check a student’s grades to ensure compliance.

• A student who does not maintain the minimum grade point average shall be dismissed from staff

until the grade point average is brought back up to a 2.00 (2.50 for student leaders).

• All regular student employees of the Student Media shall be full-time students at N.C. State

University unless in their final semester of study.

Editor The editor is the leader of the staff. The staff takes shape based on the personality and direction of

the editor. The editor sets the foundation for a successful program and is ultimately responsible for

the content and quality of the book and actions of the staff.

• Organize and conduct weekly staff meetings.

• Make final decision on all copy, photos, designs and promotional material.

• Assign duties not covered in job descriptions.


Editor The editor is the leader of the staff. The staff takes

shape based on the personality and direction of

the editor. The editor sets the foundation for a

successful program and is ultimately responsible

for the content and quality of the book and

actions of the staff.

• Organize and conduct weekly staff meetings.

• Make final decision on all copy, photos, designs and promotional material.

• Assign duties not covered in job descriptions.

• Attend weekly staff meetings and the annual staff retreat.

• Attend at least one leadership workshop per month.

• Recruit and train new staff members.

• Serve as a positive role model for all Student Media employees.

• Work with the managing editor in to set deadlines.

• Meet weekly with managing editor and adviser to assess progress on meeting goals.

• Maintain an updated ladder, nag sheets and calendars.

• Work with the adviser and Board to establish a budget and to work within it.

• Serve with the adviser as a liaison to the publishing company.

• Oversee staff payroll.

• Attend Student Media board meetings.

• The candidate must have at least two semesters remaining as a student.

• The candidate must have been a member of that media for at least two full semesters.

• Work with the adviser in organizing and teaching at annual staff retreat.

• Hold regular office hours during the normal work day. At least 20 hours per week are required.

Producer In general: The producer makes sure everyone has their stories done on time and puts the

show together. The producer puts the stories in order and makes sure the show runs

smoothly. The producer is ultimately responsible for all content produced by Campus

Watch.

Specifically:

● Creates a run-down for each show

● Types intro and exit for the show

● Make sure transitions run smooth

● Make sure tapes are ready for the show and set at the beginning of the new stories

● Print scripts for anchor, audio and director

● Labels tapes with correct numbers

● Creates a tease on tape

● Types in all CG’s into computer



• Policies


• Style


• Testimonials

• Case studies

Student Media

Style Guide

A

ABC stores — liquor stores run by the N.C. Alcoholic Beverage Control Commission; ABC acceptable on second reference.

academic degrees — unless the individual is a doctor of medicine, do not use Dr. before his or her name. See the AP Stylebook for more guidelines.

A Cappology 101 — a cappella singing group at NCSU

Addam’s University Bookstore — not Adam’s

Adderall — brand name narcotic medication for amphetamine salts. This highly controlled substance, used to treat Attention Deficit Disorder, is often abused recreationally as well as for academic purposes.

African American Cultural Center — within the center are specific areas, so give the specific location when possible.

African-American Heritage Society — note hyphenation

African-American Student Advisory Council — note hyphenation; AASAC on second reference

Ag Institute— slang for the Agricultural Institute, a part of the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences. Students earn a two-year associate of applied science degree upon completion. http://harvest.cals.ncsu.edu/aginstitute/

Agromeck — NCSU’s yearbook; was first published in 1903

Aikido Club — not Akido Club

Air Force ROTC — AFROTC on second reference

Ag Awareness Week – Agriculture Awareness Week; an annual event that Alpha Zeta sponsors to promote awareness and appreciation of agriculture on campus. Groups cover the Brickyard with equipment, livestock and displays.

albums — see composition titles

Alcohol Law Enforcement — a division of North Carolina crime control and public safety that enforces laws pertaining to the sale, purchase, transportation, manufacture, possession and consumption of alcohol. ALE on second reference.

Alexander Hamilton Scholars — dual-degree program in management and humanities

All-Girl Cheerleading Club — note hyphenation

AllCampus card — NCSU’s multipurpose ID/meal/copy card.

Alumni Association — Officially the “N.C. State Alumni Association,” the Alumni Association is acceptable on all references unless “N.C. State” is needed for clarity. It was founded in 1887. The Alumni Association is located in the $25 million Dorothy and Roy Park Alumni Center on Centennial Campus. It is not a department within the University and is not directly affiliated with N.C. State athletics. http://www.alumni.ncsu.edu see also Wolfpack Club

alumnus, alumna, alumni, alumnae — an alumnus is a man who has graduated from a school. An alumna is a woman who has graduated from a school. Use alumni when referring to a group of men and women. Use alumnae when referring to a group of only women. This is an exception to AP style, which states that an alum(nus, na) can also be a person who has attended the school. For those who did not graduate, indicate that the person did not graduate and do not use alum(nus, nae, ni, na).

A-minus, A-plus — in headlines, A- or A+ is acceptable; see grades entry for further guidelines

S T Y L E


• Policies


• Style


• Testimonials

• Case studies




Style Guide



Training Manual


T R A I N I N G


• Policies


• Style


• Testimonials

• Case studies




Style Guide



Training Manual


“To this day, I still can’t tell you what did it.

“I can’t elaborate on what drew me, an awkward engineering freshman, over to that corner in the ballroom, where a former editor stood waiting.

“…Whatever the reason, I did wander over there. He did give me that pitch. I did write my first article.

“And I’ve never been the same.”

– T Y L E R D U K E S

T E S T I M O N I A L


• Policies


• Style


• Testimonials

• Case studies




Style Guide



Training Manual


C A S E S T U D Y

T R A I N I N G

D E V E L O P I N G P O L I C I E S

• Policies


• Style


• Testimonials

• Case studies

• Questions?

By Bradley Wilson, PhD Midwestern State University

bradleywilsononline.net [email protected] Twitter: @bradleywilson09

Q U E S T I O N S ?

C O M M E N T S ?

establishing student media policy

Education