Model Policy Manual

Ethics of the Society of Professional Journalists. Maintaining these high standards is vital to the survival of credibility for the program and its publications.

Competition At times during the semester, it may seem that your adviser(s) emphasize competition. If so, your perception is correct. We believe in competition because it is the professional norm, because it is a valuable learning experience, because it breeds the personal characteristics of a reporter which are valued, because it is a way of comparing your work against that of your peers and because most employers would prefer to hire a winner with a strong track record in competition. But as the saying goes, winning is not the only thing. Participating, trying your wings, attempting to win even if you run the risk of not winning is part of the meaning of competition. Not all journalists win, but all journalists are winners because they think like winners. They compete hard but fairly. They are not undone by failure. They profit from what they learn each time they set their work against others.

Be aggressive. If you never try, you cannot lose but you will be a loser in any event.

What makes a great newspaper?

This is an excerpt from Criteria of a Good Newspaper by the Associated Press Managing Editors Association. After considerable study, an APME committee reported that integrity, accuracy, responsibility and leadership form the core of the criteria.

Integrity Maintain vigorous standards of honesty and fair play in the selection and editing of its contents as well as in all relations with news sources and the public.

Deal dispassionately with controversial subjects and treat disputed issues with impartiality.