Chapter 4 Freedom of the College Press

Chapter 4 Freedom of the College Press

What I learned and found interesting

The guarantees of freedom of the press apply to publishers not editors. If the paper is legally published or subsidized by its institution, the freedoms belong to the administration and the student editor does not have any inherent rights. Financial support determines who the actual publisher is.

The author suggests that the paper get a no-strings-attached grant from a non-profit organization to ensure its freedom from the university.

On page 119 the author mentions that the key to effective college papers relies on the relationship of the three major groups that make up the institution (the students, the administrative and service staff and the instructional faculty)
On page 121 the author mentions that the students on the paper should always feel free to publish the news as they see fit to write it.

Freedom of the press means that editors must have the courage to write the truth as accurately an as honorably as humanly possible. Page 121 I like this one

On page 122 the author talks about how the paper should use their freedom even if it risks having them make mistakes. It’s a growing experience. Then the paper will have a chance to correct itself if a mistake is made, rather than punishing them.

Authorities should be careful to not be a part of the correctional functions when the paper has made mistakes.

The editor, as a good citizen of their community, has the obligation to print what she believes to be important to the college audience. Page 123

College editors grow to be more responsible and more knowledgeable in an atmosphere of press freedom.

Question: What exactly is the policy between the administration and the paper? Is there a written document that says that the administration won’t interfere, or is it just something they try to do?

The points listed on page 126-128 are things that I can incorporate in the handbook if they apply to us. What do you think? We really need a clear cut mission statement, admin expectations and faculty expectations, you know?

The author also says the paper should select the staff, and punishments for punishable offenses. I agree. Page 131

On 133 the author says that there should be a claim on the masthead that says that the views expressed are not necessarily those of the faculty, administration etc. Isn’t that a given? Do we need to have that somewhere? Minus at the end of editorials etc.

Interesting note: The author is adamant about having the paper not be a “lab paper” and not for class credit.

He also says that ownership of the paper should be the student body, not the student government.

There are a few safeguards that the paper should have: page 137
a faculty advisor (yay Danita)
the selection of staff ( yay me and you)
Code of ethics for the paper to follow ( I am working on it)


Page 138 the author says that the newspaper operated at the behest of the administration and that its rights are defined and limited by whoever administers educational policy. Independent papers are sustained by administrative respect for the traditions and educational values they represent. Student newspapers provide forums for debate and discussion, not just by the editors.

On page 140 the author says that the students who decide to edit or publish a newspaper should assume a responsibility to use their freedom that is a privilege. By assuming responsibility the editors are held accountable for upholding and using their freedoms.

On page 142 the author states:
… Freedom of the press is the result of the interaction of the unchanging instinctive and economic forces with the local conventions of morality and religion, the local laws, prejudices, and ideals. The degree of permanence of these conventions, religious myths, and ideals is proportional to their social utility in the given circumstances of time and place.

On page 143 the author makes a good point that regular commercial papers are not controlled by a council.