Enrichment · Passion Projects

Before it runs,
check it like a pro.

A student newsroom has the same duties as any other: get it right, think about who it affects, stay independent and own your mistakes. This checklist takes one story at a time through fifteen questions built on the Society of Professional Journalists Code of Ethics, plus the calls that trip up student media most: anonymous sources and naming students under 18.

Review a storyWhat you get

Stories

The worked example is made up: a cafeteria price story, a vaping feature and a game recap. Saved on this device only.

Loading the story form. If nothing appears, turn on JavaScript.

What you get

Enrichment · Passion ProjectsFree

What you finish with
A review per story: the outlet, kind of piece, run date, whether the topic is sensitive, anonymous sources with the reason and approval, whether a minor is named, and fifteen checks in four groups (seek truth, minimize harm, act independently, be accountable). Shows each story’s checks done and Ready when all are; flags an anonymous source with no reason, a named minor in a sensitive story and every open check.
Who it is for
Student journalists, editors and broadcasters in middle school, high school and college; journalism advisers.
Format
Browser checklist with a saved review per story. Prints one review, all of them in a table or a blank sheet; downloads a spreadsheet (.csv); exports and imports a file.
Access
Free. No account, no sign-in and nothing to install. Everything you type stays in this browser; nothing is sent to Caveat.
Where it lives
The Passion Projects space in Caveat Enrichment.
Support
Questions about access, an order or a correction: team@caveatacademic.com.

How to use it

  1. Add the story once you have a full draft.
  2. Answer the questions about the story: sensitive topic, anonymous sources, minors named.
  3. Work through the four groups, marking what is done and what does not apply.
  4. Fix what is flagged, or talk it through with your editor.
  5. Mark it ready only when every check is done.

Review a story

Ethics for student newsrooms

The four principles, in a newsroomSeek truthTwo sourcesCheck every nameQuotes from notesAsk for a responseMinimize harmMinors are differentPrivate vs. publicConsent for imagesDetail with a reasonIndependentNo conflictsNo giftsLabel opinionHand off if closeAccountableOn the recordCorrections pathAn editor reads itExplain choicesThe four principles, in a newsroomSeek truthTwo sourcesCheck every nameQuotes from notesAsk for a responseMinimize harmMinors are differentPrivate vs. publicConsent for imagesDetail with a reasonIndependentNo conflictsNo giftsLabel opinionHand off if closeAccountableOn the recordCorrections pathAn editor reads itExplain choices
These four principles come from the Society of Professional Journalists Code of Ethics, which many student newsrooms adopt.

Where the checks come from

The Society of Professional Journalists Code of Ethics, last revised in 2014, is organized under four principles: seek truth and report it, minimize harm, act independently, and be accountable and transparent. The Journalism Education Association has its own code for student media built on the same ideas.

Minors and search results

A story about a student’s discipline, health or family can follow them for years through search. Many student newsrooms set a policy on naming minors in sensitive stories and on anonymous sources, and apply it the same way every time.

Who decides

The law on prior review and censorship of school-sponsored student media varies by state and by school. The Student Press Law Center explains student press rights and answers questions from student journalists.

Sources

  1. Society of Professional Journalists (2014). SPJ Code of Ethics (spj.org).
  2. Journalism Education Association: Student media guide to ethics; JEA Scholastic Press Rights Commission (jea.org).
  3. Student Press Law Center: Legal guides for student media (splc.org).
  4. Hazelwood School District v. Kuhlmeier, 484 U.S. 260 (1988).

The worked example is made up. This checklist supports editorial judgment; it is not legal advice. Nothing you type is sent to Caveat. Support: team@caveatacademic.com.