The Delphi Editorial Policy

School Board Media Policy:

District Policy

5722 – STUDENT JOURNALISM

The Board of Education believes it is important to afford students the opportunity to exercise their creativity, passion, and constitutionally-protected freedom of speech. However, the Board also believes this opportunity must be balanced between ensuring students have the right to speak freely while also preserving the ability of district staff to maintain the safe and orderly operation of the school district.  The Board adopts this Policy granting students the right to exercise freedom of speech and of the press in accordance with N.J.S.A. 18A:36-44 and N.J.S.A. 18A:36-45.

For the purpose of this Policy, the following terms shall mean:

“Prior restraint” means a school official informing a student journalist(s) the news, opinion, feature, and advertising content of school-sponsored media, subject to the restrictions listed in N.J.S.A. 18A:36-45.b., N.J.S.A. 18A:36-45.c., and the provisions of this Policy, cannot be published in school-sponsored media or a school official takes any action to prevent a student from doing so.

“Prior review” means a school official reviewing school sponsored media before it is published, broadcast by a student journalist at school or distributed, or generally made available to members of the student body.

“School official” means the Principal or designee or an administrative staff member designated by the Superintendent.

“School-sponsored media” means any material that is prepared, substantially written, published, or broadcast by a student journalist at school, distributed or generally made available to members of the student body, and prepared under the direction of a student media advisor.  School-sponsored media does not include media intended for distribution or transmission solely in the classroom in which the media is produced.

“Student journalist” means a student who gathers, compiles, writes, edits, photographs, records, or prepares information for dissemination in school-sponsored media.

“Student media advisor” means an individual employed, appointed, or designated by the district to supervise or provide instruction relating to school-sponsored media.

Student journalists have the right to exercise freedom of speech and of the press in school-sponsored media, regardless of whether the media is supported financially by the district or by use of school district facilities, or produced in conjunction with a class in which the student is enrolled.  Subject to 1. through 5. below, student journalists are responsible for determining the news, opinion, feature, and advertising content of school-sponsored media.  N.J.S.A. 18A:36-45.b. and this Policy shall not be construed to prevent student media advisors from teaching professional standards of English and journalism to student journalists.

This Policy does not authorize or protect expression by a student that:

1.     Is libelous or slanderous;
2.     Constitutes an unwarranted invasion of privacy;
3.     Is profane or obscene;
4.     Violates Federal or State law; or
5.     So incites students as to create a clear and present danger of the commission of an unlawful act, the violation of school district policies, or the material and substantial disruption of the orderly operation of the school.

The district shall not authorize any prior restraint of any school-sponsored media except for the types of expression prohibited under N.J.S.A. 18A:36-45.c. and as listed in 1. through 5. above.

A school official may implement a procedure for prior review of school-sponsored media.  Any prior review of school-sponsored media required by the school official shall be communicated to the student journalist by the school official and be conducted within three school days after submission to the school official by the student journalist.  If the school official cannot show the school-sponsored media is prohibited under N.J.S.A. 18A:36-45.c. and 1. through 5. above, within the three school days, the student journalist may release the school-sponsored media.

When a school official determines the restraint of student expression is necessary, the school official shall simultaneously identify at least one of the five prohibitions listed in 1. through 5. above under N.J.S.A. 18A:36-45.c. and in this Policy under which the limitation of student expression is appropriate.  This determination shall be provided to the student journalist in writing by the school official that made the determination.

A student journalist may appeal, to the Superintendent or designee, a determination by a school official that the restraint of student expression is necessary.  An appeal must be submitted in writing to the Superintendent or designee within five school days of the written determination being communicated to the student journalist.  The appeal must include a copy of the written determination and the reasons why the student journalist believes the limitation is not appropriate.  The Superintendent or designee may, but is not required to, provide the student journalist an opportunity to present their written appeal in person.  The Superintendent or designee will make a determination on the appeal within five school days of receiving the written appeal from the student journalist.  The student journalist may appeal a decision of the Superintendent or designee to the Board of Education in writing.  The Board of Education will make a decision on the appeal at the first Regular Board Meeting after receiving the written appeal or within ten school days after receiving the written appeal.

A student journalist that violates a provision of this Policy may be subject to appropriate discipline.

The school district shall not sanction a student operating as an independent journalist.

A staff member shall not be dismissed, suspended, disciplined, reassigned, transferred, or otherwise retaliated against solely for acting to protect a student engaged in the conduct authorized under N.J.S.A. 18A:36-44 and N.J.S.A. 18A:36-45 and this Policy, or refusing to infringe upon conduct that is protected by this Policy, the First Amendment to the United States Constitution, or paragraph 6 of Article I of the New Jersey Constitution.

The Superintendent or designee shall determine reasonable provisions for the time, place, and manner of student expression for the purposes of school-sponsored media.

N.J.S.A. 18A:36-44; 18A:36-45

Adopted:  17 October 2022

Media-level Policy:

The Delphi is the official student news site of Delaware Valley Regional High School and strives to best serve the school community as a public forum while upholding the rights granted to student journalists by the First Amendment.

Mission Statement:

The mission of The Delphi, Delaware Valley Regional High School’s online news site, is to represent the student body and the community by providing its readership with the most up-to-date and accurate local news and additional points of interest. The publication acts as a public forum that fosters open discussion for its readers to express their views.  The Delphi aims to publish timely, entertaining stories that highlight a variety of topics including news, features, sports, opinions, and the arts.  The staff will work to uphold the rights granted to student journalists by the First Amendment and New Jersey’s New Voices legislation while providing fair coverage in every story it publishes throughout the school year.

The Role of Student Media:

The mission of The Delphi, Delaware Valley Regional High School’s online news site, is to represent the student body and the community by providing its readership with the most up-to-date and accurate local news and additional points of interest. The publication acts as a public forum that fosters open discussion for its readers to express their views.

The Delphi aims to publish timely, entertaining stories that highlight a variety of topics including news, features, sports, opinions, and the arts.  The staff will work to uphold the rights granted to student journalists by the First Amendment and New Jersey’s New Voices legislation while providing fair coverage in every story it publishes throughout the school year.

The publication produces digital content for the students, staff and community of Delaware Valley Regional High School.  As a public forum, our audience can engage in conversation through the public discussion boards provided in each story’s comment section.

As for staff opinions, individual opinions will be signed with a byline and published on the opinion page of the website.  These stories are the specific opinions of the reporters themselves.  Editorial stories are the larger opinions of The Delphi’s editorial staff, which includes the Editor-in-chief, executive editors, managing editors, section editors and assistant editors.  These stories will be unsigned and will include a percentage of how many editors support the opinion and how many dissent, and all content will be decided upon solely by these editors.

The Role of the Adviser:

The adviser is a certified journalism educator who acts as both an instructor and adviser in Del Val’s journalism classes and as a coach and adviser for students participating in the program’s journalism club.  The adviser’s goal is to provide students with a well-rounded journalism education, focusing both on the skills and the ethics of journalism.

The adviser does not dictate the content of the publication or censor the work of the stories pitched by student reporters and editors.  Instead, the adviser acts to guide students to craft stories with unique angles that meet the standards set by the seven elements of journalism.

The adviser also provides training in digital publishing through the publication’s SNO site, coaching students to learn how to not only write stories, but to also develop multimedia presentations of their work.  This will include photography, slideshows, videos, podcasts and various interactive graphics.

The adviser can serve as a go-between to facilitate communication between the administration and the editors when necessary, but the adviser will not conduct interviews or gather information for stories on behalf of reporters.

Lastly, the adviser will stay up-to-date on journalistic trends and share that information with the staff to ensure that the publication meets the current standards for online journalism.  This includes scheduling trips to conventions when feasible, as well as working with editors to host the Hunterdon County Student Media Convention on Student Press Freedom Day.  The adviser will also manage contest entries on behalf of the staff to gain important feedback from scholastic journalism professionals.

Prior Review Policy:

Delaware Valley Regional High School’s administration does not require prior review before publication, nor does The Delphi opt to participate in a prior review process.  Reporters practice ethical journalism, only utilizing vetted sources and interviewees when constructing stories.

Reporters have the right to confirm quote accuracy prior to publication to uphold journalistic integrity, but requests to read and edit quotes by interviewees will not be entertained beyond confirming factual accuracy.

Editor-Staff Relations:

The editorial board for The Delphi is composed of student reporters who have served as part of the staff for at least one year, demonstrated a maturity fitting of a leader and meets the expectations for entry into Quill and Scroll International Honorary Society.  Editors must also interview for positions on the board.  The interview team will consist of the adviser and the current editor-in-chief.  Executive editors may also be invited to participate on the interview team.

While the editorial board will determine the content of editorials, any staff member may pitch content for The Delphi.  Stories pitched by reporters must be approved by the appropriate editor, and a Story Pitch Form must be submitted to the editor at the time of the pitch.  Upon approval, the story will be documented in the Story Tracker Google Sheet and updated as progress is made on the story.

All students should follow the chain of command, which is posted in the classroom and on the journalism Canvas homepage, when communicating story ideas and throughout the writing/editing process.

Staff Conduct:

All members of The Delphi staff are representatives of the high standards, both behavioral and moral, set by the editorial team.  Students should maintain passing grades in all of their classes and follow all expectations of this staff manual and the Del Val student handbook.  Should students be found in violation of any policy in either of these texts and receive discipline points, the staff member will be put on probation and be expected to correct the behavior.  Should there be another violation, students may be dismissed from an editor position or as a reporter, depending on a conversation with the school’s head of discipline and the adviser.  A third violation will result in removal from the publication staff.

Balance and Objectivity:

It is the firm belief of The Delphi’s editorial team that all reporters strive to report with balance and objectivity.  Avoiding bias is one of the most important tenets of journalism.  When pitching a new story, conducting interviews, and reporting the news, reporters must do so with the intent to tell the truth objectively as it happened (unless writing for the opinion section which allows for some objectivity).  Editors must set this standard and be willing to have conversations with reporters when their reporting shows signs of bias.  The Delphi’s reputation depends on the readership’s trust, so it is imperative that reporters provide a fair, accurate account of the news.

Academic Dishonesty:

All staff members must adhere to the academic honesty policy established by the Del Val BOE in the student handbook.  If any student is found to have plagiarized, falsified or utilized A.I. in an unethical manner, they will receive disciplinary points and will face dismissal from the staff for violating the ethical expectations of The Delphi’s mission statement.  If a staff member is unsure of the ethics of their reporting, that reporter should seek out the advice of an editor or the adviser before submitting work for publication.

Ownership of Student Content:

All student work created for The Delphi becomes the copyrighted work of the reporter(s) who created it.  The Delphi will not sell or profit off of the work of its reporters, nor will it allow other organizations to utilize student work to make a profit.  Student work will be protected just as any other writer or artist’s work is protected.

PLANNING AND GATHERING

All students on The Delphi staff must utilize the Story Pitch planning form when building a story and gathering information for that story.  This includes identifying elements of newsworthiness, interview sources, online resources and multimedia elements.  Students must verify the credibility and accuracy of their sources, both those that are verbal and written.  If there is any question about the validity of resources, editors should have these conversations during the pitch approval process or the reporter should speak to an editor or the adviser as the questions arise.

Controversial Coverage:

It is the responsibility of The Delphi to report the news as it occurs, and that includes controversial topics.  Students are protected by New Jersey’s New Voices legislation, and as long as the story does not violate the five tenets of this legislation, the students and adviser are protected.  When controversial issues arise, the editorial team may meet to discuss what type of coverage should be utilized in order to tell that story.  If the editorial team decides, they may work with Del Val’s administration to cover the story and to inform the community of the situation.

News Judgment and News Values:

All stories will be judged against The Delphi’s focus on the Seven Elements of Newsworthiness: Timeliness, Proximity, Conflict, Reader Impact, Prominence, Rarity and Human Interest.  When reading and creating the news, The Delphi staff should determine whether a story meets these criteria and how the relevant criteria of that story should dictate how the story is told.  This discussion can be had between a reporter and an editor/adviser if the reporter is unsure of how to interpret a particular story based on these criteria.

Diversity of Sources:

In order to create the most well-rounded and objective stories, The Delphi aims to utilize a wide variety of sources.  News bias and political leanings of sources will be considered when conducting research and planning, and interviewees will be selected from a population that is relevant to the story being written.  Interviews will be conducted with the intention of including a variety of people who are related to the story, and they will not be hand selected in order to skew the article toward a particular outcome.  Balance and objectivity are key to trustworthiness, and utilizing a variety of sources and viewpoints is essential when telling those stories.

Treatment of Sources:

All sources should be treated with dignity and respect.  These people are taking time out of their schedules to assist reporters in telling their stories, and that favor should not be taken for granted.  All questions should be unbiased and non-leading, allowing the source to share his/her/their account of events rather than being led to a particular way of viewing an issue.  After the interview, all information gathered from that interview should be reported clearly and accurately as it was shared with the reporter.

Recording Sources During Interviews:

New Jersey is a “one-party consent” state, so it is legal for you to record a conversation as long as the person recording is part of that conversation.  However, the editorial believes that a reporter should always ask for the consent of the interviewee before making an audio or video recording of a source.  Reporters should ask permission for the recording as well as explain how that recording will be utilized (quote/information gathering, podcast, video).  If the reporter receives consent, then the recording can be made and notes should be taken in a reporter’s notebook.  If consent is not given, then all notes should be taken in the notebook, and quotes should be transcribed verbatim.

Allowing Sources to Preview Content Before Publication:

Reporters should never allow a source to preview content before publication except in specific circumstances determined by the reporter and/or the editors.  Sources may be allowed to preview quotes in order to determine accuracy before publication, but they should not be shown the finished product.  Doing so would undermine the ability of the reporter to do his/her/their job.  Beyond quote verification, if a question should arise about needing to share part of a story with a source, that decisions should be made on a case-by-case basis with consultation of the editorial team and the adviser.

Emailing and Texting Digital Information Gathering:

Much like email interviews, information gathering is best done through firsthand research and interviewing.  If physical distance or other extenuating circumstances determine a need for information to be sent digitally, that information must be vetted and verified before being used in publication.

Verification:

All sources must be verified for accuracy and credibility.  When conducting interviews, even experts can make mistakes or mix up words.  The research process should be thorough and complete, and it starts with the reporter.  Facts must be differentiated from opinions, sources must be identified, resources must be identified, and facts and statistics must be checked for accuracy prior to publication.  Once a draft is submitted, it becomes the editors’ responsibility to double check the accuracy of an article’s sources.  When in doubt, speak with other editors and/or the adviser for assistance.

Unnamed Sources:

Anonymity should not be offered lightly.  The only case in which anonymity should be granted is when the story cannot be told without the information possessed by that source, for instance, a witness to a crime.  Hiding one’s name because an individual’s opinion isn’t popular does not necessitate anonymity.  Every time an anonymous source is used, questions can be raised about the validity of that information.  Once anonymity is granted, however, it cannot be rescinded.  There is an ethical promise made between the reporter and the source that cannot be broken once that interview is conducted.

Treatment of Minors:

In the case that a story involves a minor who is not a student of Delaware Valley Regional High School or participating in an event organized by DVRHS, it is the belief of The Delphi’s editorial team that the minor not be named or photographed in a way that would draw negative attention to that individual.  In feature pieces, permission must be granted by the minor’s parents and/or guardians before moving forward with a story.

Public Records and Meetings:

Students have the right to request public records like any other citizen.  When it comes to accessing public records and meeting minutes, students need to identify which records they need and determine who would be in possession of those records.  Requests should be made in person when possible, and all communication should be professional.  In the case that a written request needs to be made, speak with the adviser or consult the SPLC for guidance.

PRODUCING CONTENT

All content produced on The Delphi’s website is created by the students on staff, or it is used with the permission of the parties that created it via creative commons licenses or written permission.

The content production process includes a formal story pitch using The Delphi’s Story Pitch Form, a regimented drafting process which is overseen by the editorial team, the utilization of a Story Progress Tracker Google Sheet, and the digital publication tools provided by The Delphi’s SNO site.

The Delphi may work with the DVRHS’ TV Media, yearbook and photography programs in order to produce larger projects, as well as for help in areas of those programs’ expertise.

Handling links:

Hyperlinking to sources is mandatory in any article produced for The Delphi.  It creates credibility and acts as a form of verification of research.  It is the reporter’s responsibility, however, to verify that the sources that are linked to the story are credible and appropriate for our audience.  Sources that promote the sale or practice of anything that would be deemed illegal for high school students to partake in should not be linked to The Delphi.  Sources should also be checked for bias, accuracy and credibility.

Providing Context:

Providing context is imperative for a reporter.  Any quote or fact used without context can be misconstrued, which can deceive the audience and violate journalistic ethics.  It is the reporter’s duty to identify sources, explain how that information was gathered when necessary, and provide links to digital sources whenever possible.

Writing Process:

The writing process begins with the Story Pitch form and editor approval, followed by creating an entry in the Story Tracker Google Sheet.  Once a story is approved, the reporter should begin researching the 5 Ws and H of the story to determine the details and context of the story.

At this time, the reporter can begin to develop interview questions and contact sources.  Reporters should meet with editors during this stage to ensure that the angle of the story is being met and that all aspects relevant to the story are being addressed.

Interviews should be scheduled for Unit Lunch or during class time whenever possible.  If those times do not work for the interviewee, it is the job of the reporter to schedule a time that is convenient.  Reporters should not miss other classes without the permission of that teacher and the knowledge of the adviser.  Interviews conducted after school should be held in a safe, public place, especially if meeting with someone who the reporter is not familiar with.

After the interview, develop a lede that meets the angle of the story and work with an editor for revision if necessary.  Then, use the inverted pyramid, LQTQ or Hourglass format to construct the story.  An editor can help determine which format is best or if something more creative might work.

Once the story is drafted according to the AP Stylebook, it should be submitted to the editor and the Story Tracker should be updated.  During the editing process, multimedia elements should be added, including a featured image and caption.  The editor will communicate with the reporter concerning any edits that are needed.  Once the editor gives final approval, the process begins again.

Advertising:

The Delphi staff sells advertising on its homepage and in its sidebars.  Staff members will be tasked with reaching out to local businesses in order to offer advertising.  Rates are determined on an annual basis by the editorial team and are listed on The Delphi Advertising Rates form in Canvas.

The Delphi does not offer advertising to any business that primarily sells or distributes products that are illegal for a teenager to use or own.  As per the Board of Education’s policy The Delphi may accept advertising requests from restaurants that sell alcohol, but references to alcohol must be removed from the name and logo before appearing on the website.

Ads will appear on the website for the same duration of time as the business paid for.

Social Media:

1. All content published on The Delphi’s social media platforms will be held to the same journalistic standards as any other content published on The Delphi’s news site.
2. The Delphi’s social media accounts are run by veteran students to the program who have gone through proper ethical and technical training in order to professionally publish on these platforms.
3. The Delphi’s social media accounts are utilized in order to promote the published content on The Delphi’s news site and as a means to allow for the community to engage with our publication and each other.
4. All content posted on social media is properly vetted by an editor both for quality and for accuracy. Any errors discovered on a post will be promptly corrected once they are discovered.
5. Concerning breaking news, every effort will be made by The Delphi staff to ensure that all details shared in a post are accurate and from credible sources. Publishing breaking news quickly is not an excuse for sidestepping proper journalistic ethics. Every effort will be made to obtain information from a primary source in these situations.
6. The Delphi editorial team reserves the right to remove any posts or comments that violate the publication’s editorial policy.
7. All communication conducted through The Delphi’s social media accounts should be conducted with respect and professionalism. This includes both posts by the staff and comments left on those posts.
8. The Delphi may repost content published by other accounts associated with Delaware Valley Regional High School for the purposes of advertising and highlighting events and accomplishments of Del Val’s various teams, clubs and organizations. They will do so without editorializing the content.
9. All content created by The Delphi staff and published on its social media accounts is the property of The Delphi.

Use of Profanity:

Staff members will not publish or promote unnecessary profanity in any of its work.  Quotes that include profanity or are deemed profane will be edited to remove the profanity, but the revised quote must be shared with the interviewee prior to publication.  The editorial board will make this determination.

In the case of album reviews that include profane lyrics, the editorial board will discuss whether altering the lyrics would negatively impact the credibility of the review, or if that lyric is necessary in the review at all.

Obituaries:

The community may submit obituaries to The Delphi for publication.  Submissions should be between 250 and 300 words, and a photo should be included in .jpeg format.  There is no fee for this service.

Should any member of the school pass during the year (student, staff, administration), space in the yearbook will be dedicated to his/her/their memory.  No portion of The Delphi will be dedicated to those lost.

Any coverage of the passing of a school community member will be done in a way that honors that individual.

Sponsored Content:

The Delphi does not accept sponsored content from any individual or organization for any reason.  All work published on The Delphi is the work of the staff.

Visual Reporting:

The same journalistic ethics that applies to written journalism also applies to visual reporting.  Journalistic photos and videos need to be authentic and factual.  Any editing or cropping applied to a photo or video should only be performed in order to improve the composition or clarity of the image.

It is unethical to add or remove anything to an image that was not originally there, nor is it ethical to use A.I. to create images as evidence for a story.

For infographics, timelines, graphs and other multimedia visualizations of data, they must be accurate and honest.  The data and sources of that data cannot be skewed or biased, and the visualization cannot distort or omit data in order to make the graphic fit the story.

The purpose of using visual reporting is to help the reader “see” the meaning of a reporter’s words.  If the images don’t depict an accurate picture, then it is no different than lying about a source or fabricating a story.

Guidelines for Breaking News:

Breaking the news is a reporter’s job, and the internet makes a reporter’s ability to do so faster and easier than ever.  Although speed is important when breaking news occurs, accuracy is always more important.

Reporters want to get news to their readers as quickly as possible, but that news needs to be correct.  Otherwise, the reporter is misinforming the audience, which is the opposite of journalism.  Breaking the news does not bypass fact-checking and editing.

If a reporter finds himself/herself/themselves in a breaking news situation, the goal is to collect as many facts as possible, still focusing on the 5 Ws and H, and to document everything possible, including photos and interviews.  Once the information is organized and drafted, it should be submitted to the editor-in-chief or one of the executive editors for proofreading and verification.  Once the story is verified, the editor-in-chief will decide whether it is fit to publish.

An exception is live sports coverage.  If a reporter is on-site at the game and is witnessing the action firsthand, the reporter has permission to work with any editor to post live coverage throughout the event.  It is still expected that all posts are proofread for spelling, grammar and AP style.

Letters to the Editor:

The Delphi’s readership is welcome to write letters to the editor using the form on the website or emailing the publication at thedelphi@dvrhs.k12.nj.us.  Upon receiving a letter, a member of the editorial team will verify that the letter was sent by the individual who signed the letter.

Should the letter have any language that is inappropriate for publication, it will be returned to the sender for revision.  At that point, the letter will be published in the opinion section.

Readers also have the ability to post comments on The Delphi’s website and social media accounts.  Comments are previewed by a member of the editorial team before being published on the website.  Any comment that is found to be in violation of The Delphi’s code of conduct will not be published.  This includes profane or obscene posts or personal attacks against the student reporters.

Guest Writers / Columnists:

The Delphi also operates a journalism club where students who are not members of the staff can join and work with the staff when it is convenient for their schedules.  Students can also contribute articles for publication after meeting with an editor or the adviser for a discussion on journalistic versus ELA writing.  Guest writing should be submitted to thedelphi@dvrhs.k12.nj.us.

All guest writing must meet the standards for publication and be in accordance with journalistic ethics and constitutional law.

Corrections Policy:

The editing process is important, and it is the goal of the editorial team to publish error-free work at all times.  In the case that there is a mistake published, it will be corrected as quickly as possible.  The editor-in-chief or executive editors will determine if corrections need to be made and what those corrections should be.  They will consult with the reporter who wrote the article when making these determinations.

Errors can be communicated to the editorial team via the comment section of the article or by contacting thedelphi@dvrhs.k12.nj.us.

When a correction is made, a message will be added to the top of the article stating the date and time that the article was updated.

Code of Ethics:

The Delphi follows SPJ’s Code of Ethics.  When we made this decision, the students agreed that our standards should be the same as those held by professionals in the field.