Is it the right thing to do?

The law is on your side, but … Staffs often face difficult choices when making coverage decisions. –Most times, the question isn’t “can we put this in the book?” but “should we put this in the book?” Often, the law gives a staff the right to print an item. Sometimes, it isn’t a matter of law. It is a matter of ethics. Use the following scenarios to aid discussion and help develop a code of ethics for your staff.

The law is on your side, but… Scenario 1 Editors are reviewing a spread planned about divorce and its effects. One story is a first-person account of a senior whose parents divorced when she was a junior. The story puts a bad spin on her father. Some of the editors are concerned about how the father is portrayed; others wonder if the topic is even appropriate.

The law is on your side, but… Scenario 2 After fall break, students return to school to find that one of the seniors was killed in a car accident. Editors want to include a memorial spread in yearbook. He was well-known and participated in several sports, including being captain of the football team. While he was not a class officer, he was considered by many to be a leader in the school.

The law is on your side, but … Scenario 3 The editor of the sports section wants to include a story about the cross country team, which struggled this year. The story includes quotes from more than one player that places part of the blame on the coach who was absent from several practices and meets.

The law is on your side, but… Scenario 4 The academics editor has proposed doing a feature spread about learning disabilities. Some editors feel that this topic is not appropriate; that it would be an invasion of privacy. They worry it would be embarrassing for some students to see this story in the book when it is distributed and later in life.

The law is on your side, but… Scenario 5 The student council chose to have their group photographed in front of the school. A staff member working on the club pictures noticed that the flag pole in the background appears to be growing out of the head of one of the students. She asked the photo editor to use Photoshop to remove the pole from the image. The editor refused, saying it is unethical to alter the true appearance of a photo.

The law is on your side, but… Scenario 6 While giving the spreads one last look before submitting a deadline, the adviser notices graffiti on the school wall in the background of the dominant on a spread. The photo is a great shot of students having fun planting a flower garden. Since the spread is about students taking pride in their school, he feels this photo shouldn’t be used. The problem is that the photo is the best image and to replace it would weaken the design. The editor suggests removing the graffiti using Photoshop. The photographer objects because he likes the contrasting message it contains.

The law is on your side, but… Scenario 7 While visiting the yearbook room, the principal notices a spread on student drinking. After pulling the adviser aside, he expresses his concern that this is not an appropriate subject for a yearbook. He is concerned that it makes the school look bad. He is particularly worried about quoting students in the article.

The law is on your side, but… Scenario 8 A staff member notices that the president of the Community Service Club is missing from the group picture. Since there is not enough time to take another group picture, he wants the photo editor to take a picture of the missing student and add her using Photoshop.

The law is on your side, but… Scenario 9 Let’s change a few facts in scenario 8 and see if that affects your decision. The president of the Community Service Club is missing from the club’s group picture. She missed school that day because she was in the hospital and, eventually, she died. The mother has asked that you take her image from another club picture taken earlier in the year and add it to the other group. It is important to the mother because her daughter was devoted to this club and believed strongly in its purpose.