Experts give advice on dealing with access to the athletic department
Author: Nathan Hardin
Public campus, private spaces
The increased use of private contractors on college campuses is regularly provoking disagreement over the ability of privatized bookstores, coffee shops and copy centers to declare otherwise-public property off-limits for newsgathering. The issue has become a point of frustration for student journalists who are welcomed as customers in their student role but may be excluded once their cameras come out.
Introspective: Student journalists respond when the news hits close to home
The unique environment of a college campus means young journalists often have to take into account special ethical concerns. And while decisions on exactly how to cover your own newsroom may vary, the consensus seems to be, above all, not to ignore stories because they hit close to home.
UNC will appeal FERPA ruling ordering disclosure of athletic department records
The chancellor of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill said Thursday the school will appeal a judge’s decision and seek a stay in a public-records lawsuit filed by media outlets including the Daily Tar Heel student newspaper.The trial judge's April 19decision declared that phone records of university athletic department officials and parking tickets given to student athletes are not protected from disclosure by federal privacy law.In a press release, Chancellor Holden Thorp said the school is appealing because of student privacy rights, not because of a desire to conceal information about UNC's football program.“Our responsibility is to protect the privacy rights of all of our students, whether they’re on the football team, in the marching band or in a Chemistry 101 class.
Adviser, in need of brain surgery, suddenly fired at UT-Tyler
The studentnewspaper adviser at the University of Texas at Tyler was fired Friday, leavingher without insurance for her upcoming brain surgery.
S.C. college paper under six layers of prior review, editor says
Theautomated operator on Benedict College’s phone service welcomes callers, sayingthe college is “a power for good in the 21st century.”
Samantha Norman would disagree. In fact, she said after the recent censorship dispute she’s lost a lot of respect for the college and that although she plans to earn a master’s degree, she will not pursue it from Benedict College.
Judge: Phone numbers, parking tickets of UNC athletes not covered by FERPA
The phone records of university athletic department officials and parkingtickets given to student athletes are not protected from disclosure by federalprivacy law, a state court judge ruled Tuesday.
Changes to student privacy regs could shield 'directory information'
The U.S. Departmentof Education proposed new student privacy regulations Thursday, which may haveimplications for journalists trying to obtain information from schools andcolleges.
After controversial sorority story, Arkansas State papers disappear
TheArkansas State University Herald joinedthe list of alleged 2011 newspaper theft victims March 17 when issuesdisappeared from stands two hours after distribution.
Virginia approves revised, journalism-friendly social media guidelines for teachers
The Virginia Board of Education unanimously approved guidelines for the prevention of sexual misconduct March 24.The original proposal—brought forth in November—underwent months of debate, resulting in the approval of a drastically reduced version.Although intended to deter school employees from engaging in inappropriate relationships with students, the initial proposal could have been detrimental to student journalism in Virginia.The November proposal included communication restrictions such as:
- No text messaging between students and teachers.
- No communicating with students using non-school platforms, including popular social media sites Facebook and Twitter.
- No “ongoing” meetings with a student without notifying the principal and obtaining written parental consent.