Laws, Ethics and News Literacy
It's important to know your rights and how you got them.
Over the years, I've learned about different cases and laws like Tinker, Hazelwood, New Voices, etc. These have inspired me to not be afraid to push the bounds of journalism, and do what I believe is right.
Name Changes
Not every student goes by their legal first name: some students go by their nickname, middle name or are transgender.
For traditional spreads and breakers, we ask "What's your name and can you spell it out" so we're putting student's preferred and correct names in the book.
However, we can't interview every student and ask that for portraits and index. So, the other editors and I (not the advisers) created a Name Change Request Form. For two weeks, we have everyone's portraits and names on the wall, and they can check that it is the correct name and spelling. If something is wrong, they can scan a QR code and access this form.
We reserve the right to deny inappropriate requests, in case someone request an immature joke.
This is very important to me, and came after a long discussion between us editors. Additionally, Arkansas has a law against student's selected names. Because we hold first amendment rights, and it is me and other editors, not our advisers, doing this, we're able to use students' preferred names.
ICE Walkout
In January, 2026, word started spreading on social media about an ICE walkout at the high school during fifth period. Obviously, as journalists, several of us yearbookers wanted to photograph it. After consulting Student Press Law Center and discussing with our principal, it was clear that as photographers would technically be skipping class, they too would be subject to In School Suspension.
Unofficially, a staff member still went and took pictures, and the Walkout is now being covered with a main story on a spread. The story covers the start to end of the walkout, as well as the motivations and researchers of some of the protestors.
Especially in today's political climate, I think it is vital to cover students being active in politics.
Senior Superlatives
In the same vein of name change requests, we knew last year that there was a transgender student who was likely to win a senior superlative. Traditionally, seniors vote for one boy and one girl to win each category. We didn't want there to be one boy-boy category that stood out.
So, we changed how voting worked: rather than vote for a boy and a girl, seniors could vote for one person of any gender. While there was some worry that many categories would be just boys, it actually was a good mix of male and female winners.
2024 Election
The election breaker was made with careful thought and considerations.
For one, we had to make sure we could actually use newspaper clippings without worries of copyright. I consulted Student Press Law Center. With their help, I came to the conclusion that we were good to go. Our work fell under fair use.
The second issue was one of equal opinions, coverage and no editorializing.
We interviewed AP Government students for the main story, to cover the insight they had with the help of the class. We made sure to give equal coverage to the opposing parties, in both image and text.
In the end, I believe the spread came together very nicely thanks to the extra thought that went into it.
