OUR POLICY

Policy

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The name of the Saginaw High School yearbook is The Rider

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The name of the Saginaw High School online newspaper is Rough Writer News

 

Location

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The Saginaw High School journalism department is in room C105

 

The Saginaw High School newspaper can be located at www.roughwriternews.com

 

The Saginaw High School yearbook website it

 

To contact the Saginaw High School journalism department, please email the adviser at jbass@ems-isd.net or call at 817-306-0914 ext. 8442.

 

Purpose

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• The Rider and Rough Writer News are designed for students to serve the school’s community. Therefore, all publications and videos provide staff members with multiple independent writing opportunities and real-life experiences. Staff members often learn responsibility, cooperation, and professionalism, as well as business and marketing skills.

 

• The Rider and Rough Writer News provides their audience with factual and well-researched reporting on significant aspects of school culture and community lifestyle. The publications should use their platform to publish content that will educate the community towards constructive actions.

 

• Saginaw High School publications have a goal to produce content in an interesting, timely manner in ways that will enhance the educational experiences of students.

 

• The Saginaw High School publications experience should encourage students to be creative and strive for the best while entertaining the Saginaw community.

 

Coverage

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• It is the responsibility of Saginaw High School publications to cover school, city, state, national and international events and issues that affect the campus, the community, its students or readers in a non-biased method.

 

• School publications will make the best attempt to cover all aspects of the school. However, coverage will greatly depend on the news value (how important or interesting it will be to the majority of readers) of the topic. The adviser and publication editors determine the news value of all published material.

 

• School publications will clearly identify sources of news, except when it is necessary to protect the identity of the sources. In this case, the adviser and editors will be informed of the source’s identity, and they will determine if the source is creditable.

 

• Published news will not invade personal privacy or print material that may be embarrassing or degrading to any individual or group.

 

• All editorial and opinion content will be labeled as such. They must be backed up by factual sources, and at no time will an editorial attack or harm a person.

 

Frequency & Format

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• Rough Writer News stories are published on the online news website at least once every two weeks and typically once a week.

 

• The Rough Writer News website is the responsibility of staff in the advanced newspaper class offered by Saginaw High School in Eagle Mountain-Saginaw ISD.

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• The Rider is published once a year and is distributed in May.

 

• The Rider is published by Walsworth Publishing’s Kansas City plant.

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• The Rider is the responsibility of staff in the advanced yearbook class offered by Saginaw High School in Eagle Mountain-Saginaw ISD.

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Audience

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School publications are written primarily for the 2,000+ students that attend Saginaw High School. Secondary audiences include:

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• Feeding middle schools

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• Faculty, staff and administration of Saginaw High School

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• Parents

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• School Board Members

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• Advertisers

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• Other school journalism programs

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• ILPC, JEA, NSPA, TAJE, CSPA and other professional organizations

 

Board of Education and Administrative Policy

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• The Board of Education and the Central Administration of Eagle Mountain Saginaw ISD provides the publications with a partial subsidy to cover basic supplies, just as it does for other classes in the school curriculum.

 

• The student body of Saginaw High School does not provide the publications with a partial subsidy. However, the student body does purchase the yearbook for a set price during the school year.

 

• Additional funds are generated through the sale of advertising and/or fundraising by the publications staff.

 

• While school publications are responsible to the board for the funds they receive and subject to state and federal laws, content reflecting students’ thinking is not necessarily in agreement with the administration of Eagle Mountain Saginaw ISD.

 

• Editorials represent the staff majority of agreeance. Opinions are not generally those of the adviser, its editors, student body, faculty or administration

 

• All content is a designated public forum for student expression without prior review by school officials.

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Responsibility for Activity and Objectivity

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• School publications will do their best to correctly spell names and make accurate class and position identifications. Names of students, faculty, administration and other sources must be checked for accuracy by the writer.

 

• The editor or adviser is not responsible for inaccuracy in presenting names within a story.

 

 

• All facts must be verifiable by at least two sources. All quotes are subject to verification by the editors and/or adviser. Any story containing factious quotes will be discarded, and the writer will be placed on discipline probation.

 

• Each staff member is responsible for quote collections.

 

• Most of what is published is the work of individuals. The staff and adviser are responsible for all material which appears in school publications. Administrators have a non-review role: they may, according to the Hazelwood court decision, control content prior to publication, and may offer advice on sensitive issues and will offer criticisms following publication.

 

• School publications strive for the highest standards of accuracy, integrity, completeness and careful research in its presentation that time allows. However, since there are deadlines to meet, school publications will go to press with the facts as they stand on deadline. The staff therefore assumes responsibility for the accuracy of these facts.

 

• Rumor, gossip or innuendo are not, nor will they ever be, the basis for any story appearing in school publications.

 

• No member of the publications staff will accept any free gifts, considerations or passes that might compromise the integrity of the school’s publications or the objectivity of its reporters. The Saginaw High School Journalism Department receives staff passes to school sporting events and activities free of charge. The purpose of these passes is to properly produce an active, accurate account of the event and should not be used for personal reasons.

 

• All copy must conform to the department’s Stylebook, contained within this Staff Manual. When the publications’ stylebook does not have the answer, consult the AP Stylebook.

 

• School publications are a member of the UIL-ILPC, TAJE, NSPA, CSPA Quill and Scroll, and JEA professional organizations and receive critiques from some of these sources and adhere to these organizations' guidelines.

 

• Website sources used must be accredited and approved by the editor and/or adviser. Any source used must be sited within the story.

 

Academic and Behavior Expectations for Saginaw Journalism Staff

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• Student journalists are expected to maintain high standards in academic performance and behavior and to serve as positive role models for the student body.

 

• Staff members who do not meet these standards are subject to school disciplinary consequences and staff consequences including probation and dismissal.

 

• Any student member of an extracurricular organization or campus club (e.g. journalism/band/dance team/cheerleader/athlete/student council, etc.) representing themselves, or their organization, through electronic media (i.e. websites, personal home pages, blogs, text messages, etc.), or using electronic communication devices (i.e. camera phones, digital photos, electronic descriptions) in such a way as to cause school officials to reasonably anticipate substantial disruption of or material interference with the activities of the organization or school will be subject to the disciplinary actions determined by appropriate school officials and/or organization sponsors/directors/coaches, including probation or dismissal from the organization.

 

Time Commitment for Saginaw Journalism Staff

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• Journalism is a time-consuming activity, and it is the responsibility of each journalist to be present at each activity and perform to the best of their ability.

 

• Because of the many hours involved in researching, reporting, shooting, and covering events, other school and non-school activities may have to be limited. It may not be feasible, nor in the best interest of the student, the staff, or the school for a student to be a journalist (especially editors and aspiring editors) and hold another major position which requires major time expenditure.

 

• The adviser will review school participation conflicts to solve the problem while considering the best interests of the individual, as well as the interests of the journalism staff and other school organizations.

 

• Everyone must share equally in the behind-the-scenes work, as well as the covering all school events.

• It is sometimes difficult for staff members (particularly editors) to have after school jobs because of the time required outside of class.

 

• The responsibilities of being on the Newspaper and Yearbook staff and consequences for not meeting responsibilities are assumed at the time the selected staff is announced.

 

• All students must complete their work and deadlines as efficiently and on-time as possible, and if they are unable to do so, they may be subject to disciplinary actions such as probation or dismissal.

 

Attendance/Work Nights
 

• Be here physically and mentally every day. If you are absent, see an adviser for missed work, ESPECIALLY IF YOU ARE ON DEADLINE.

 

• Contact the school office and teacher if you will be out for an extended period. The adviser may need to send assignments home to you.

 

• Because all deadlines and assignments are announced ahead of time, an absence does not excuse a student from meeting a deadline.

 

• Attendance at worknight sessions is required unless you are excused by an adviser (not when you think you’re done).

 

• All editors must attend all worknights.

 

• Worknight attendance is a test grade.

 

• Work nights are usually at least once every six weeks before a major yearbook deadline.

 

Bylines, Ownership and Copyright

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• Any full-length story that includes original reporting will carry a proper byline including title.

 

• Any art or photo will carry a credit line.

 

• Any story which expresses an author’s opinion or analysis will carry a byline and a standing column head to indicate the story represents an individual opinion.

 

• Staff editorials will not carry a byline.

 

• Bylines should not be cut for space reasons.

 

• Any story written or photo taken for the Saginaw Journalism Department cannot be reproduced in any fashion without consent from the writer and the adviser.

 

• All content (written, photos) published belong to the author and cannot be reproduced without permission.

 

• Rough Rider Media encourages and assists students to build an online portfolio to showcase learned skills.

 

• Advisers and Administration requests students not to sell or distribute owned materials until after graduation to avoid competition of yearbook sales and readership.

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• Photos and stories published in Legacy Student Media publications will not break any copyright laws.

 

Advertising in Saginaw’s Student Publications

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• The purpose of advertising is to raise money for the department by bringing the buyer and seller together, thus making it a vital part of school publications.

 

• School publications reserves the right to refuse any advertisement that makes reference to products, services, substances or paraphernalia that are illegal to minors or deemed inappropriate to the Eagle-Mountain Saginaw community.

 

• All ads are subject to review by the adviser and editor staff.

 

• All staff members are required to solicit ads.

 

• Staff members selling a set quota (set by the business manager) will receive a free yearbook or free advertisement.

 

• When soliciting advertising, staff members will dress and act in a professional manner.

 

• The business manager and editors will set advertising prices at the beginning of a school year during a budget workshop.

 

• Prices can be found on the department’s website.

 

Distribution

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• The Rider’s copy count is determined by the numbered purchased.

 

• The Rider is distributed during the last few weeks of the school year and will vary in cost depending on the time of year.

 

Use of Equipment

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• All Equipment is strictly for Journalism use only (computers, cameras, lenses, batteries, etc.) Students must obtain special permission from the adviser for other purposes.

 

• No outside organization may use Rough Rider Media equipment, unless approved by the adviser.

 

• No food or drinks are allowed around computer or camera equipment.

 

• All equipment used must be properly checked out through the adviser.

 

• Students are responsible for condition of equipment and must pay for any damage in full.

 

Prohibited Materials

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• Students cannot publish or distribute libelous material. Libelous statements are provable false and unprivileged statements that injure an individual’s or business’s reputation in the community including the following:

  • A public official who holds an elected office or appointed office

  • A person who is known for personal achievements

  • School employees

  • Students, staff or faculty members

 

• Under the “fair comment rule,” a student may express an opinion on a matter of public interest if it is in good taste and approved by the editor and the adviser –in some cases the principal.

 

 

• Students are prohibited from publishing materials that are obscene without special permission from the adviser, including:

  • sex

  • drugs and alcohol

  • gang activities

  • foul language

 

• Students are prohibited to publish or distribute materials that will cause a material and substantial disruption of school activities that include:

  • seizures of personal property

  • strikes

  • school boycotting or walk-out

  • Fights

 

• Students are also prohibited from distributing or publishing any of the following materials:

  • racial/ethnic slurs

  • slander/libel

  • racial remarks or undertones

  • violence or threat thereof

  • anything that lacks serious literary, artistic, political, or scientific value

 

Death Policy

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• Death Policy Publications often must report on a student’s death. The following are guidelines in handling such stories. In general, deaths are not typically covered in the yearbook because of deadline timing and constrictions. Generalized stories can run in the newspaper.

 

• A death ruled “suicide,” illegal activities, or drug/alcohol overdose/abuse will not be reported on, nor will a tribute of any kind run in any publication. Suicide or drug related deaths may be generalized and show the compass of the situation, but the story cannot name of the student of whom has committed the act.

 

• Students of which die of “natural” causes can be spotlighted in The Rider and can have a memorial bookmark created at the parent’s cost or donated funds. The story or tribute must be approved by the adviser, the principal and the parents or guardians (at which a letter of story release must be signed and kept on file).

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Social Media/Web Policy

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• Any student work cannot be posted to personal social media sites, blogs or websites.

 

• Students may retweet/like from The Rider or Rough Writer News account.

 

• Media students are to refrain from posting comments on other people’s personal sites, blogs, social media pages concerning any item about the journalism program.

 

• Students given passwords to the department’s social media sites and websites can only use these outlets for journalism reasons.

 

• Social media sites are to be used for headline and information only –no editorializing or promoting of personal items or agenda)

 

• Students are expected to be professional and refrain from inappropriate comments, materials, photos when posting on personal social media profiles while on publication staff, class functions, trips, class time and other times when representing Rough Rider Media.

 

• Text messages services within the online newspaper can only be used for official journalistic reasons.

 

• Students are responsible to know the full “social media policies” manual.

 

Returns/Refunds

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• No refunds can be given for a yearbook purchase.

 

• A proof of a senior ad will be mailed and/or emailed to the buyer.

  • The buyer has two weeks to call/email for corrections.

 

• Refunds for a senior ad may be given if:

  • there is a mistake made by Rough Rider Media staff and

  • a proof was NOT sent to the buyer

 

• An option of a “crack and peel” stickers for errors in senior ads may be an option. If Rough Rider Media staff is at fault, the department will pay for the correction. If a proof was sent, the buyer has an option to purchase a correction sticker.

 

• Any yearbook not retrieved by the buyer within six months of the distribution date will be resold or donated.

 

Online Take Down Policy

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• Only the writer/photographer, editor, adviser or principal has the right to remove a story from the online edition of Rough Writer News.

 

• Stories will only be pulled for fact errors or violations of this policy.

 

• A letter of “request of removal” for a story can be submitted to the adviser (jbass@ems-isd.net) or the official Rough Writer News email (roughwriternews20@gmail.com) and will be considered on an individual basis.

 

POPS (Parents of Publication Students)

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• The purpose of POPS is to have a relationship between publication students and parents and the adviser and parents. The adviser will produce newsletters informing parents of upcoming events and recent successes. Also in the newsletter will be information on advertising and budget information.

 

• POPS members are encouraged to volunteer time working with journalism students. Rather it be to stuff envelopes for a mailout, help with school day photos or to feed staff members during deadlines, parent involvement is a must for success. POPS are also welcomed to attend any journalism trip as a chaperone/sponsor.

 

• Although it is not a formal organized booster club, parents are suggested to elect a leader to be the communicator for the group. Parents can set up meals for worknights or success parties when students win awards.

 

• For more info and suggestions contact the adviser.