Verde Magazine Policies

Legal advisory Ethics policy

We follow the NSPA’s Code of Ethics for High School Journalists, which includes seven key points:

1) Be responsible.

Keep yourself and your biases separate from your coverage.
Understand your rights as a student journalist as guaranteed by state and federal law.
Make informed decisions about the use of your power as a journalist.
Demonstrate credibility and integrity outside of journalistic work.

2) Be fair.

Approach news and events without predisposed notions regarding the events and phenomena occurring.
Explore controversial topics with a neutral agenda.
Do not use your position as a journalist to favor certain sources or opinions.
Welcome diverse perspectives and viewpoints.
Disclose any potential conflicts of interest.

3) Be honest.

Never plagiarize work.
Avoid using imaginary or hypothetical scenarios.
Do not assume all sources are correct and corroborate any questionable assertions posed by sources.
Ensure all sources grant permission to record video or audio before proceeding.

4) Be accurate.

Reporting based on first hand experience whenever possible.
Fact-check all articles.
Ensure all quotes and facts are put together in a truthful and unbiased narrative with appropriate and accurate context.

5) Be independent.

Accept no gifts or favors that could compromise your journalistic independence.
Hold school officials and other persons in power accountable when student control of student media is threatened.
Learn state laws regarding freedom of information

6) Minimize harm.

Think through the possible implications of all stories and prepare accordingly.
Be careful when covering issues involving sources who endured traumatic or distressing experiences.
Balance the public’s right to information with an individual’s right to privacy.
Avoid naming people involved in illegal activities.

7) Be accountable.

Publicize mistakes or corrections made to any stories.
Highlight unethical practices and remedy them.
Use anonymous sources sparingly.
Provide opportunities for criticism from readers and viewers

Reporting Ethics

Controversial Topics: Controversial subjects will be covered when the nature of the content is timely and relevant to our student and community audience. To ensure unbiased reporting, articles will be evidence-based and reflect diverse source opinions. Student journalists reporting on sensitive topics such as sexual violence will receive prior training on how to do so compassionately and accurately using the Poynter Institute’s self-directed “Reporting Sexual Violence” course and other relevant materials.
Anonymous sources: Anonymous sourcing will be used when the testimony in question is essential to the development of stories concerning controversial or taboo topics. Anonymous sources will only be included if, as outlined by the Poynter Institute, the story is of “overwhelming public concern,” the testimony is “verifiable” and necessary, it is imperative that the source’s identity remain private and reporters can justify both the testimony’s use and the method in which it was received.
Profanity: Student journalists will refrain from publishing profanity and vulgarity in Verde articles unless deemed by the editorial board as adding news value. Verde reserves the right to edit quotes for unnecessary profanity or vulgar language, and Verde journalists may ask sources to repeat a quote without the use of profane language.
Accountability: All sources will receive a feedback request form at the end of the semester in which they were contacted, and staff will address responses pertaining to general journalistic conduct (see “Requests to Change or Remove Content” for more specific feedback). During this time, the editorial board will conduct our Diversity Audit, compiling data regarding the age, racial background, gender and if applicable, grade level, of each source to evaluate whether Verde has accurately represented the range of perspectives in our community.

Legal advisory Ethics policy

Student journalists on Verde will publish only legally protected speech, following the legal definitions of libel, obscenity and invasion of privacy. Consistent with California Education Code section 48907, the staff also will refrain from publishing material (including submissions from the community) which so incite students as to create a clear and present danger of the commission of unlawful acts on school premises or the violation of lawful school regulations, or the substantial disruption of the orderly operation of the school. When faced with potential legal questions, staff will contact the Student Press Law Center for advice concerning media law.

Responsibility for content
As per California Ed Code 48907, the student staff of the magazine is entirely responsible for its content; therefore, the content may not necessarily reflect the opinions or policies of Palo Alto High School or Palo Alto Unified School District faculty, administrators, or the Board of Education. Because school officials are not responsible for the content of the publication, Verde will not be reviewed, restrained or withheld by school officials prior to distribution. Because the staff will control the content of the publication, it will therefore also take financial and legal responsibility for what is published in its print and online form. Consistent with Ed Code 48907, the Verde editors-in-chief are not obliged to print or post an individual staff member’s or community member’s submissions. The editors-in-chief — working in consultation with the whole staff and the adviser — will determine the content of the all unsigned editorials and the letter from the editors. Signed columns or reviews represent only the opinions of individual authors.

Byline policy

Story bylines include the names of all staff writers who contributed to the story. Individual side bars written by writers different from those of the main story include bylines. The order of writers’ names on the bylines have no significance — it is alphabetically by last name in print and on the website. Editors are not credited on specific bylines for their work. Signed columns or reviews represent only the opinions of individual authors.

Copyright

Copyright permission for student work to be published in the magazine and online is inherent in the relationship between Verde and its staff members. Likewise, permission is assumed for those non-staff members who submit material for publication.

Content Accuracy policy

Sources: Verde prides itself on following the above code of ethics to deliver fair and accurate reporting. Therefore, sources may ask to have their quotes read back to them before publication. Verde reserves the right to publish all on-the-record quotes so long as they are accurate. Once a story is published, our general policy is to not change or remove any content — including, but not limited to, quotes, names and information — due to requests from outside sources. However, we may evaluate requests on a case-by-case basis and attempt to correct any errors found to be false, libelous or dangerous. If a story is altered, readers will be explicitly notified of the edits made. Sources may request information to be taken “off the record” if the request is made prior to the interview, and such content will not be used in writing. However, sensitive or controversial interview content may be removed after the fact if the source has expressed a compelling and reasonable justification.

AI policy

Verde staff members will not publish any text or information generated by Artificial Intelligence. AI may be used as a support tool, namely for proof-reading purposes. Student journalists on Verde are not permitted to use AI as a tool for brainstorming or research. Verde will not publish any images or illustrations generated by AI. However, if an image or illustration generated by AI is the subject of an article, it may be published with a caption that indicates the source. Verde staff members are not allowed to use AI tools to alter the content of images, although minor exposure/lighting edits are allowed.

Updated Aug. 28, 2024