College newspapers need journalistic integrity
Issue date: 3/19/04 Section: Editorial
- Page 1 of 1
Recently, a story published in Long Island University's weekly newspaper stirred up controversy and debate about ethics, according to CNN.
CNN reported that after printing the grades of the university's student body president, Abdel Alilea, the editor of Long Island University's newspaper, Justin Grant, was suspended for three weeks.
Grant printed in the newspaper that Alilea was resigning from office because his grades were low. The newspaper ran that Alilea had received two F's, one D and an incomplete.
According to CNN, the newspaper's advisor helped the reporters obtain the grades in order to publish them.
The university called the support of the advisor in this situation a "breach of university policy and, potentially, of federal confidentiality rules." University officials also said they were upset about the way the situation was handled, claiming that the article did not cite a source or give Alilea an opportunity to respond.
This type of journalism should not be tolerated. While journalists may differ in ethical beliefs and may argue over whether it is right to publish the student body president's grades, one thing is certain here. A journalist stepped over the line.
There may be exceptions to the rule. If the Washington Post hadn't taken a risk and published with an anonymous source, the Watergate scandal that forced former president Richard Nixon out of office may have not been uncovered.
However, college newspapers are not the Washington Post and are held to different standards-standards that give students the ability to learn what journalism is about. Student reporters should take extra care to gain as much credibility as possible.
Student journalists have a hard enough time getting their universities to respect and believe what they write without practicing bad journalism.
Everyone makes mistakes, however, such carelessness should be avoided at all costs.
Another upsetting piece to this puzzle is the lack of judgment on the part of the college newspaper's advisor who encouraged the printing of this information without a source.
Advisors have more experience than college journalists and must use that experience to help everyone avoid a sticky situation such as the one in which Long Island University has found itself.
It is hardly ever a good idea to print a story without a source. The advisor should have recognized this and brought it to the attention of the editors, instead of encouraging the students with a "get the story no matter what the cost" attitude.
It should always be a journalist's first priority to get the story, however, it doesn't do anyone any good if the story is not credible or it is poorly researched.
CNN reported that after printing the grades of the university's student body president, Abdel Alilea, the editor of Long Island University's newspaper, Justin Grant, was suspended for three weeks.
Grant printed in the newspaper that Alilea was resigning from office because his grades were low. The newspaper ran that Alilea had received two F's, one D and an incomplete.
According to CNN, the newspaper's advisor helped the reporters obtain the grades in order to publish them.
The university called the support of the advisor in this situation a "breach of university policy and, potentially, of federal confidentiality rules." University officials also said they were upset about the way the situation was handled, claiming that the article did not cite a source or give Alilea an opportunity to respond.
This type of journalism should not be tolerated. While journalists may differ in ethical beliefs and may argue over whether it is right to publish the student body president's grades, one thing is certain here. A journalist stepped over the line.
There may be exceptions to the rule. If the Washington Post hadn't taken a risk and published with an anonymous source, the Watergate scandal that forced former president Richard Nixon out of office may have not been uncovered.
However, college newspapers are not the Washington Post and are held to different standards-standards that give students the ability to learn what journalism is about. Student reporters should take extra care to gain as much credibility as possible.
Student journalists have a hard enough time getting their universities to respect and believe what they write without practicing bad journalism.
Everyone makes mistakes, however, such carelessness should be avoided at all costs.
Another upsetting piece to this puzzle is the lack of judgment on the part of the college newspaper's advisor who encouraged the printing of this information without a source.
Advisors have more experience than college journalists and must use that experience to help everyone avoid a sticky situation such as the one in which Long Island University has found itself.
It is hardly ever a good idea to print a story without a source. The advisor should have recognized this and brought it to the attention of the editors, instead of encouraging the students with a "get the story no matter what the cost" attitude.
It should always be a journalist's first priority to get the story, however, it doesn't do anyone any good if the story is not credible or it is poorly researched.
