Law, Ethics, and News Literacy

This year, I have made an effort to demonstrate and encourage law, ethics, and news literacy among my staff and high school community. For one, I am committed to holding the yearbook to a standard of truth and objectivity. Let’s take this year’s election coverage, for example.

Equal election coverage

My design editor chose to cover the presidential and Arizona state senate elections on the student life section interrupter. She did an amazing job polling students on their preferred candidates and priority issues, but I noticed her design and photos heavily favored the Democratic candidates. This was purely circumstantial because I attended a Harris rally and took photos of Vice President Kamala Harris, Representative Ruben Gallego, and the crowd, but I maintained that we needed to find a way to represent both parties equally.

Before my feedback

After my feedback

I advised her to include a photo of Republican Senate candidate Kari Lake and another photo of President Donald Trump to even the coverage between the two parties. This small change improves the ethical responsibility of the yearbook and ensures it serves as an accurate historical record.

school-wide Law literacy campaign

Furthermore, I have created law literacy resources, specifically relating to student press, so students can be made aware of their rights.

Arizona Student Press Laws Post

I posted this series of graphics on the yearbook Instagram page in a joint initiative to promote law and media literacy and encourage students to purchase the yearbook. This post aimed to inform students on our rights as student press and their rights to privacy. I felt education on this matter would make students feel more comfortable being covered in the book.

First Amendment Posters

Though this campaign extends beyond the scope of the yearbook staff’s typical responsibilities, I feel it is our responsibility to advocate for responsible journalism and the First Amendment.