Chapter 7 Censorship
Censorship of the campus press could be accomplished only if someone other than the student staff was in a position to approve copy prior to publication. Page 95
Students in private colleges have rarely gone to court to seek protection from censorship.
It is good advice to a college administrator not to take action against the student press, even though the press has been obnoxious or severe. The danger is not only in court action but also in on-campus relations. Page 98
Administrative attitudes toward censoring student publications by various control techniques swing on a pendulum of inexperience. Page 99
The common scheme [of censorship] is to threaten to reduce or eliminate funding or facilities. Student government, student personnel people, presidents, and deans have been known to use this ploy in a heavy handed manner Another plan is to pressure publication boards or committees to chill or control content. Page 100
Question: The senate is censoring us by cutting our budget 3,000 dollars. Can we do something about that? Sue them, write to them, I don’t know. It’s just that it states in this article that funding is a way of censoring and I believe that they think they can control us that way.
Chapter 8 Troubles in the Courts
Libel is visual defamation. Articles that hold persons to public hatred, ridicule, or scorn and have the effect of destroying professional reputations can be said to be libelous. Page 101
Not all things that are embarrassing or critical are actionable in a libel case. The court:
1. Determines that the alleged libel was published.
2. Determines that the material pertained to the person in the suit
3. Determines whether the material is actually libelous. Page 101-102
In most cases, the courts rule in favor of the newspaper. P102
Educational institutions have two other avenues to escape liability. For Private and Non Profit colleges there is charitable immunity, which may protect from liability. P103
Governmental immunity is based on the 11th amendment and extends to public colleges. P103
There is also Agency law. If a person acts outside the scope of his employment, his advisors and superiors may not be held liable.
Chapter 9 Journalism Education
Journalism education became caught up in the academic mazes that have created much confusion about higher education. Journalism is still going through name changes on campuses. P105
Newspapers provide labs for journalism programs at colleges. P106
Journalism is a broad term encompassing all aspects of print media and most aspects of electronic media as well as theoretical and philosophical bases of such media and their impact on society.
Why don’t we have a journalism program?
10-13 on the way
posted by Krista @ 11:50 AM
1 Comments:
Hi Krista,
I would say that censorship of the campus press would NOT happen if your ADVISOR helped to approve copy -- unless your advisor refused to run stories because she was afraid of what might happen. (She isn't. :-) -- but she will tell you to hold stories if they aren't factual or balanced.) However, if an administrator was in the position to approve and refuse stories, that would be an altogether different story.
I still hear two different stories as to why our funds for the newspaper were reduced -- and you know what you were told. How many people heard the government state that we were reduced in funding to teach us a lesson? If we have enough corraboration, I'd say we'd definitely been censored by the government -- all the more reason to separate.
Two courses of action could happen:
1. We could run an editorial exposing what the government did.
2. We could work with Dean Annarelli and Khareem in the beginning of August to get the media board started, move away from being overseen by the student government, and let it all blow over. If it doesn't, see number 1.
I don't see suing as an option, unless someone has the funds to do it. Don't look at me. :-)
As for libel, the best defense against that is making sure all of your information is true and accurate. If someone is charged with a crime and we write about it, we can't be sued for libel because it's simply the truth.
You ask why we don't have a journalism program at Eckerd, and I don't honestly know. Right now it seems students can piece together a good background in journalism by taking communications and creative writing classes. I wish we had someone on staff that was more verbose in the two areas where I am weak -- photojournalism and sports writing. Maybe these things will happen in the future, as both the communications and creative writing programs continue to grow. But more classes are being created to help those interested in journalism. Besides Fred's classes in news writing and feature writing, I'm offering the personal essay (which will have journalistic components) and, of course, the practicum. For students who plan to stay in the practicum more than one year, I'm going to offer individualized studies in advanced courses such as convergence and web media (at least, that's the plan). It all depends on how the practicum works out -- hopefully well.
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