October 4, 2024
With schools back in session, it’s a great time to take a look at Chalkbeat’s Code of Ethics and see what the education-focused nonprofit newsroom can teach journalists – in and out of schools – about working with minors and about accountability. Here are some points that resonated with us:
- Writing about schools means talking to underage students. Develop distinct ethical guidelines that consider sources’ unique risk and positionality: “In the case of writing about elementary and middle school students, Chalkbeat journalists will make every effort to reach the parents, guardians, or advocates of students in three cases: when they speak to the student without an adult’s knowledge; when the student will receive prominent attention in our story; and when a student is providing information that could reflect negatively on themselves or others.”
- Protect high-risk sources while also protecting story integrity: “Recognize that educators can be vulnerable to negative consequences of speaking to the press, and so it may be appropriate to cite unnamed educators when reporting about the effects of programs or policies on the classroom. Editors should make that call, and a story should never rely on a single unnamed educator to provide such insights.”
- Check and double check: “Seek independent verification from multiple sources to confirm (or contradict) claims, especially those made by public officials or anyone with an agenda beyond merely reporting the truth.”
- Diversify your sources to tell the full story: “Actively seek sources who lack access to broad public platforms, in addition to documenting the claims of those with influence and power.”
In Decoded, we highlight an Ethics Code from our growing online resource list of Ethics Codes and Guidelines from newsrooms around the U.S. (Don’t see your newsroom represented? Please send a copy to Ryan Howzell.) Read the entire Chalkbeat Code of Ethics and browse other resources at ethicsandjournalism.org.