News Literacy
Staying objective & avoiding bias
I knew early on in high school that I wanted to become a journalist, which meant staying informed as much as possible and remaining unbiased when reporting the news. As an opinionated teenager, being an objective writer was difficult at first. When I first joined the program, I wanted to write about topics that I had already set my opinion on. However, I realized over time that my job as a journalist wasn't to state my thoughts on the news, but to rather tell the news for what it truly is. After this realization, I decided to start covering stories that involved topics I wasn't fully informed on and to remain unbiased in my writing. Because of this, I've been able to improve my critical-thinking skills and determine how to judge the reliability of news and information.
Below is an example of a story I wrote my sophomore year where I and my co-writer Editor-In-Chief at the time Nicole Konopelko had to remain objective and unbiased when writing.
Example: "The process behind canceling"
When writing this article, my co-writer and I had to take multiple concerns into consideration when writing an article regarding the process behind canceling school in the USD 250 school district as a result of inclement weather. Below is a list of what we had to think about prior to the interview.
1 ) It was easy of to create a biased opinion on what superintendent Richard Proffitt had to take into consideration when canceling school. We believed that it would have been an easy choice that involved little to no hesitation, however, we had set these beliefs aside in order to remain open-minded prior to the interview.
2 ) Once we finished the interview, we were able to realize the importance of pushing our thoughts aside on the topic. Proffitt informed us of each concern he took into consideration prior to canceling.
After the story was published, we received compliments for keeping the public informed and shining a light on the process behind such a large decision. Since this was one of my first stories on staff, it helped shape me into the journalist I am today.
Fact Checking
Whether it's by checking if a name is spelled accurately or citing the correct source, ensuring the story contains multiple perspectives is a key element in becoming a responsible journalist. A journalist's job is to represent facts as they are, not what we want them to be.
Prior to beginning my rough drafts, I conduct as much research as possible. I gather background information by talking with those involved before fully flushing out a story and an angle.
Below is a story I wrote regarding the newly established Pittsburg Alternative School Setting (PASS) Academy. I checked information from interviews against the student handbook, and previously published interviews and news articles about the creation of the new educational opportunity.
Example: "An inside look into PASS Academy"
PASS Academy is in its third year. After hearing misconceptions about the school, I decided to delve deeper into discovering how the school originated and how it was beneficial to students. I began by researching the student handbook. When I found a section on PASS Academy, it only read: "The PASS program is designed for students who are unable to function appropriately in the regular school setting or who are in jeopardy of severe disciplinary consequences. PASS will continue the students’ academic progress while problem solving and resolving issues. Enrollment or assignment to this program is through administration or SIT/IEP recommendation. Once a student has been placed into this program, they must meet PASS expectations to be placed back into the regular educational setting. All students in this program are eligible to participate in extracurricular activities."
After reading the PHS handbook, my next step was to interview lead teacher Trevor Elliott. He provided information about the origin of the academy. As with every interview, I made sure to ask for his name, how it's spelled and job title to ensure that I was properly quoting my sources. He then informed me that while the academy has students who may have various difficulties in the larger school setting, these students are able to successfully complete work at their own pace.
Next, I interviewed students on how the learning environment benefited students. When I came across junior Emiliano Cruz, who has been in PASS since his freshman year, he shared with me some personal statements within his interview, specifically about how much his GPA had increased. Blown away by his words and honesty, once my rough draft was finished, I called him to ensure that everything was factual and that he was comfortable with everything that had been mentioned. When he told me that he was proud of the fact that people would read how much his GPA had improved, I knew at that moment that he meant every word.
Interviews aside, I also made sure to conduct background research by reading articles, specifically, “USD 250 Board Meeting — PASS Academy sees success,” where I was able to find the reported vision of PASS Academy. The article was helpful. However, I made sure everything about PASS was accurate by verifying facts with Elliott prior to its publication.
After the story was published, I received compliments for shedding a light on PASS Academy and informing others on what it truly is and how it benefits students.
