again, caught the news media flat-footed. It was a complaint in the Kerner Commission report in 1968, and this shortcoming continues today. The silences will be filled, but by whom. Will mainstream media include the myriad voices in these discussions? Will scholastic media target its distinct constituencies to fill the void? Certainly, scholastic journalists are wellpositioned with ready access to a wide range of stories and sources to make significant contributions to the dialogue.
Fairness and balance. As you probably notice, there’s a common thread sewing together these key practices, including fairness and balance. Coverage must be fair and balanced to be accurate and truthful. Cultural inclusion must be incorporated in coverage that is considered fair, balanced, accurate and truthful. To practice ethically, journalists must strive to cover stories that meet these standards. All sides and opinions must be explored when reporting on a topic, whether it is considered palatable or not. Reserve the content producer’s opinion for appropriate formats that allow them (editorials, personal blogs, first person articles) and alert audiences when you do. With the disruptions posed by technological and economic developments in media, it’s a challenge to keep sight of these critical journalistic standards that
contribute to compelling, credible, accurate news content while staying on top of the latest distribution software and balancing finances. But it must be done. We must find a way to address these seemingly competing interests, to teach students and teachers how to produce solid journalism regardless of the platform used for distribution. To ensure the profession practices its core value of public service. Otherwise, what does the news product have to offer? With too much emphasis on the business side, and not enough on media content, both will ultimately suffer. My last two pearls, more so than the previous ones, go to the heart of navigating a fulfilling life that encompasses career, character and relationships.
Learn from others. Whether best practices or mistakes, they can be informative. Use your journalistic skills and privileges to ask questions and become informed. Take advantage of educational opportunities at school as well as those made available to you as a journalist covering school boards, administrators, community leaders, city officials, etc.
Enjoy the journey. When covering stories, researching and interviewing sources can be as much fun as producing the report. Enjoy the process, rather than tending to the routine steps. This goes for every aspect of the matters in which you engage. Be open to new possibilities that weren’t envisioned when the story idea was hatched. Similarly, in life, let it unfold. When I began this journalistic journey more than 40 years ago as a high school student in St. Louis, my vision was set on newspaper reporting. Off to college I went with that goal in mind. Ten years after graduating from college and enjoying the coverage of court cases, school boards and the human condition, other options came into view. My career and life took routes I never imagined as a teenager – earning a doctorate, leading state and international scholastic journalism organizations, developing programs to teach journalism skills to youth, teaching at a major university. What a ride! So, to you Quill and Scroll members, take to heart as I have the advice of media icon Oprah Winfrey, which is printed on a poster in my office: “What God has intended for you goes far beyond anything you can imagine.” I haven’t decided whether to take the huge framed poster with me when I move from the office. But I do know that I’m ready for the next chapter. How about you?
Blue and Gold Awards for yearbook excellence
Quill and Scroll International Honorary Society for High School Journalists recognized 10 scholastic media staffs with the Blue and Gold Awards launched last year in conjunction with the organization’s 90th anniversary. These awards honor high school journalism programs that excelled in the 2016 Yearbook Excellence Contest.
Category A
Category B
Staff Excellence
Comprehensive Writing
Staff Excellence
Comprehensive Writing
Comprehensive Visuals
Shawnee Mission North High School Overland Park, Kansas
Comprehensive Visuals
Darlington School Rome, Georgia
Shawnee Mission North High School Overland Park, Kansas Davenport Central High School Davenport, Iowa McCallum High School Austin, Texas Shawnee Mission North High School Overland Park, Kansas
Haltom High School Haltom, Texas
Westlake High School Austin, Texas
Arrowhead Christian Academy Redlands, California Arrowhead Christian Academy Redlands, California Darlington School Rome, Georgia Richland R-1 School Essex, Missouri
5 • Quill & Scroll • Spring 2017
Calvary Day School Savannah, Georgia
Notre Dame De Sion High School Kansas City, Missouri