Law, Ethics, and News Literacy
The historical context and importance of ethical reporting, and my understanding of it as a student journalist
Law
The intersection of law and journalism
Since the founding of our nation, journalism has been the first draft of history. Written into our constitution, the First Amendment protects free speech and those who use it. Journalism, without a doubt, is the cornerstone of free speech and therefore upholds our constitutional right to be aware of the events that occur around us. Without journalism, perspectives would be lost to history and the colorful scope of our world be dimmed. Journalism and law have a symbiotic relationship, both impacting the proceedings of the other and carrying the ability to shape and create perspectives. Knowing this, I dedicate myself to adhering to the ethical code of journalism while reporting on what I am passionate about. Further, when a local bill was in the process of being enacted, I took the time to understand the legal impacts it would have on journalism. Though a student at a private school and only at the very beginning of my journalism career, I had a deep understanding of why this bill was necessary. The Hawaii Student Journalism Protection Act preserves students’ rights to use free speech without fear of censorship, and was enacted into law in 2022. I am proud to say my signature can be found on petitions for that very law.
Ethics
Considering ethics in reporting
As journalists, we must agree to uphold and adhere to the ethical code presented to us. We report the truth, consider every angle of a story, and produce work that uplifts a community rather than harms it. Though a difficult and daunting subject to tackle, understanding Journalism Ethics is a necessary step in validating yourself as a reporter– one cannot be a fair and impartial reporter if they do not have a deep understanding of the ethical implications of journalism. One way we at Na Pueo ensure we are producing ethical work is reviewing the Society of Professional Journalists’ Code of Ethics. In class, we read the code of ethics and had a discussion about how various aspects of it apply to our work at Na Pueo. Having experienced the importance of ethics in my own writing, I was able to both reflect on my own experience as well as provide insight to my peers and staff. Because Na Pueo has reported numerous times on disciplinary action at our school, the Minimize Harm clause had special relevance. We discussed how we as journalists can report on the truth of an event while also considering ethics, and how our work impacts those involved. In addition to these impactful discussions, we also received a visit from Emmy awarded journalist Lynn Kawano who shared her experience with ethics in reporting on very sensitive cases and events.
News Literacy
Becoming informed so we can inform
With the news becoming more and more complex by the day, it is imperative that we as student journalists become complex to match it. Our understanding of the news, current events, and legitimacy must be multifaceted and layered. To practice this, Na Pueo does a current events quiz daily, where our advisor provides us the first half of a recent event and the staff must fill in the blank with the rest of the event. Though it seems relatively elementary, this repetitive practice encourages us to keep our minds sharp and have a keen eye to what occurs in the world around us. From pop culture to international political proceedings, Na Pueo aims to be informed so we, in turn, can serve as a credible source to the community we write for. In addition to staying aware, we also review the news bias chart at the start of every year to ensure the places we turn for information are credible and accurate. Developing news literacy takes time and practice, but the end result is worth it. I myself will continue to improve as both a member of society and a journalist who aims to be informed and multifaceted.