Editorial Policy
Editorial Policy
- Purpose of the newspaper- The student newspaper will be a student run publication that reports on recent school news, sports, and student body activities. The paper will attempt to report on all subjects objectively and remain as impartial as possible. The ultimate goal of the paper is to provide its readers with accurate, unbiased accounts of the happenings at the school. The student newspaper will also give its reporters a chance to practice professional and responsible journalism at the high school level.
- Profanity- Profanity will not be used in any of the objective material covered in the paper (news, sports, and features.) Quotations may be altered if Prairie Hawk Press standards are not met; published material must be suitable for readers of all ages. Profanity is defined as any word not allowed in a PG films, which is based upon the community standards expected within high school classrooms.
- Content- The content of the paper will be determined by its staff in brainstorming sessions. The students will come up with ideas of what they deem of importance to cover in the school. The advisers have the ability to override inappropriate or unfeasible ideas.
- Staff writing- Stories and editorials will be written by the student newspaper staff and non-staff members who contribute to the paper.
- Photograph credits- Several of the photographs published in the paper and on this Site are taken by MCDS staffulty members and are credited as “MCDS Staff Photographer.” Some of these photographers include, but are not limited to: Bonnie Manley, James Kilgariff and Heather Jones.
- Controversial issues- When controversial issues arise the newspaper will cover them professionally and objectively as it does with every other issue. All sides of an issue will have their voices heard during the coverage of a controversial issue. Whenever an issue is being covered that may offend a particular group within the school the newspaper staff will alert the group of the intended coverage in an attempt to avoid inciting anger towards the news staff or inciting any kind of violence within the school. Student publications allow students this medium to have their voices heard on elections. Democracy requires public participation.
- Trivia- Gossip and social media conflicts will not be covered on a regular basis. This may be explored periodically if it can be tied into a feature piece, but it will not be a regular occurrence. All issues shall be covered in a professional objective manner as all other material is handled in the paper.
- Reviews- Movies, streaming music, professional artist concerts, and books may be reviewed within the student publication. Student performances (orchestra concerts, school plays, etc.) shall be presented as a news story rather than a review.
- Bylines- All news, sports, and feature stories, as well as columns, will contain bylines. Bylines will all have a uniform font and will appear at the top of each story.
- News and features- The front page of the newspaper will normally be devoted to school news. Features will provide information, but are also meant to be entertaining for the reader.
- Obituaries- In the unfortunate event of a student or faculty death the coverage will be determined on a case by case basis.
- Errors- If an error is discovered by the staff or by a reader it will be corrected in the following issue on the interior and noted in italics at the front or end of the web story. Factual errors will be published in the article with an apology for the mistake.
- Illustrations- Photos and illustrations will also be held to the same standard of professionalism and objectivity that the writing is held to. Photos or cartoons published with malicious intent to an individual will not be published as this could invite legal action against the publication. Manipulated and staged photos must be labeled as photo illustrations to avoid confusion among the readers.
- Advertising- Advertising will not be sold to any product that is not legally sold to the majority of the student body (tobacco, alcohol, etc.) Advertising will also not be sold to any business, agency, group, etc. that goes against the overall mission of the school and the paper.