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Last update 1/20/2010

Policy Manual

 2009-2010


Pledge:
The College Voice will make every attempt possible to prevent violations of these standards, and will encourage their observance by all members. Adherence to this code of ethics is intended to preserve the bond of mutual trust and respect between the College Voice and the
College community.

Table of Contents

Introduction

General Policy  

     • Purpose of the College Voice
     • Editorial Board   
     • The Role of Faculty Adviser  
     • Membership  
                1. Anti-discrimination Clause
                2. Eligibility
                3. Vacancies
                4. Staff Positions
                5. Termination
     • Protocol  
                1. Code of Ethics
                2. Conflict of Interest Guidelines
                3. Dress
                4. Petitions
                5. Spokesperson
                6. Responsiveness
     • Coverage  
                1. Topics
                2. Requesting Coverage
                3. Complimentary Tickets
                4. Participation
     • Interviewing  
                1. Accuracy
                2. Events
                3. Questions
                4. Calling at Home
                5. E-mail Interviews
                6. Advance Copies
                7. Private Meetings
     • Names & Identification     
                1. Names & Titles
                2. Charge or Convicted
                3. Suspects
                4. Victims
     • Sources and Citations    
                1. Anonymity
                2. On or Off the Record
                3. Contact
                4. Number
     • Editing   
                1. Process
                2. References
                             A. Stylebook
                             B. Sexual Crimes
     • Layout  
                1. Lead Stories
                2. Positioning
     • Graphical Elements    
     • Corrections    
                1. Circumstances
                2. When to Print
                3. Online Version
                4. Letter to the Editor Option
     • Copyrights & Reproductions    
     • Online Policy
                1. General
                2. What is it?
                3. Differences from Print Version
                4. Special Features
                5. Maintenances
                6. Links
                7. Updates
     • Complaints    

Business & Advertising Policy    

     • Advertisements   
                1. Editor
                2. Prepayment
                3. Rate Adjustment
                4. Materials
                5. Rejection
                6. Tearsheets
     • Corrections    
                1. Make-Goods
                2. Ads
     • Cancellations    
                1. Deadlines
                2. Refunds
     • Liability  
     • Copyright  

The News Department    

     • Beats    
                1. Specific Beats
                2. Responsibilities
                3. Editing
                4. Junior Writers
     • Seniority    
     • Coverage Issues    
                1. Bomb Threats
                2. Deaths
     • Features    
                1. Cover Stories
                2. News Analyses
                3. Editorial Cartoons
     • Graphic Art  
     • Outside Submissions    
                1. Acceptance
                2. Editing
                3. Responding to Authors
                4. Contact
     • Letters to the Editor    
                1. Acceptance
                2. Submission

Photography Policy  

     • Captions  
     • Coverage
                1. General
                2. Tip-offs
     • Credits    
                1. Photo Illustrations
                2. Placement
                3. Timeliness
     • Features    
     • Photo Use  
                1. Distortion
                2. Color & Brightening
                3. Duplication
                4. Requests Otherwise
                5. Timeliness
     • Reproductions  
                1. Reprints
                2. Rights
     • Graphics    

APPENDIX A – Code of Ethics

     • The Code
     • Freedom of the Press
     • Ethics
     • Accuracy & Objectivity
     • Fair Play
     • Pledge

APPENDIX B – Conflict of Interest Guidelines  

     • Outside Activities
     • Work for Other Publications
     • Whom to Interview

APPENDIX C – The College Voice Constitution



Introduction

After more than thirty years of oral tradition, the College Voice has put its operating policies into print. Each year, the College Voice’s policies may be challenged, argued, created and changed in board meetings, elections, debate, newsroom banter and inter-departmental discussions. Changes must then be ratified by receiving a majority vote from the members of the editorial board after which they must be transcribed into this institutional handbook for future College Voice staffers to use and follow.
    Between printings, an up-to-date copy of the manual is kept in the newsroom and revisions are posted prominently on the newsroom bulletin board. The Manual, like the College Voice Constitution, must be reviewed every other year (odd years) during the fall semester to ensure that it is up-to-date.

This handbook will serve as a newsroom reference book for writers and editors - a concrete list of what to do and what not to do in specific situations. The book also can be a way of introducing new staffers to the College Voice’s accepted methods and protocol.

More than just an internal guide, this Policy Manual has been compiled to provide information about the student newspaper to the community at large. As a result, it is hoped that interactions between students and community members will proceed as smoothly as possible.


General Policy

Purpose of the College Voice:
The purpose of the College Voice, as stated in the College Voice Constitution, is to publish a student newspaper. The paper is directed primarily at the students, faculty and employees of Mercer County Community College and its neighboring areas, and contains educational and informational articles not normally or frequently contained in the commercial press, along with a significant amount of news and editorial coverage and general student comments of particular interest to the college community.
    A secondary purpose of this organization is to promote interest in the art of daily collegiate print journalism and to educate and train students at Mercer County Community College in the art of print and online journalism.

Editorial Board:
The Editorial Board (EB) makes all essential institutional decisions for the College Voice. The EB is made up of the editor-in-chief and all other current editors as well as senior photography, web and design staff.
    The Editor in Chief and Managing Editor are essentially responsible for all decision making for matters related to the creation of the newspaper. Issues of College Voice policy and protocol must be made by vote of the EB where a simply majority rules. Votes can be conducted whenever at least two thirds of EB members are present.

The Role of Faculty Adviser:
The Faculty Adviser (FA) is not responsible for the content of the College Voice. She acts as mentor, sounding board and writing coach. If the College Voice is staffed by fewer than three people (i.e. not enough to take a majority vote), the FA may select editorial board members following the traditional application process, otherwise she may generally aid in recruiting possible members for consideration by the EB. She must work to train editors and writers both in specific journalism classes and during the day-to-day operations of the newspaper.
    The FA strives to instill in College Voice staffers a sense of what constitutes good writing and good journalism practice and works to increase awareness of the history and legal issues of the press. She may review student writing and, in consultation with the editor-in-chief, she may choose not to put into print any article she determines is not fit for publication for reasons of libel, inaccuracy, lack of depth in reporting, or plagiarism.

Membership:
   1. Anti-discrimination Clause - the College Voice does not discriminate based on age, citizenship, color, disability, gender, race, religion, national origin, political affiliation, sexual orientation or status as a disabled veteran. The College Voice actively seeks a diverse staff.
   2. Eligibility - Any Mercer County Community College student carrying 6 or more credits while maintaining a GPA of 2.5 or higher is eligible to become a member of the organization provided they are either enrolled in or have completed CMN 131 - Journalism I or have applied for and been accepted to a staff position by the Editorial Board and/or Faculty Adviser.
   3. Vacancies - When staff positions become vacant new staffers may be admitted by the EIC and Managing editor. Positions may also be filled by the Faculty Adviser in consultation with the EIC and ME. The College Voice is an equal opportunity employer, and reserves the right to restrict membership based on an ability to perform the activities related to the organization’s purpose.
    4. Staff Positions – Staff positions include: editor-in-chief, managing editor, photo editor, webmaster, design/layout editor, copy editor, viewpoints editor, arts & entertainment editor, other section editors and junior and senior writers/reporters and photographers. Applications for anticipated vacancies are sought before the end of each academic term. Applicants must fill out an application (available in the College Voice office), pass an editorial exam if applying to become an editor, be interviewed by the editorial board and then receive a majority vote of approval from the EB in consultation with the FA.
    5. Termination – Any staff member who graduates is automatically terminated from his or her position at the College Voice. Likewise, any student who ceases to maintain the 2.5 GPA and 6 credit minimum course requirement for membership is automatically terminated from his or her position at the College Voice. A staff member who is deemed to have flagrantly violated any part of the code or intent of the policies of the College Voices, as expressed in the Policy Manual or the College Voice Constitution, may be removed from his or her position by a majority vote of the Editorial Board. The Faculty Adviser may terminate any reporter found to have flagrantly violated any part of the code or intent of the policies of the College Voice, when that reporter serves the Voice specifically as a result of taking a journalism course and does not serve in any other capacity.

Protocol:
   1. Code of Ethics - All College Voice staff members adhere to the College Voice Code of Ethics. (Appendix A)
   2. Conflict of Interest Guidelines - All College Voice staff members adhere to The College Voice Conflict of Interest Guidelines. (Appendix B) The managing editor has final say in all situations involving possible conflicts of interest.
   3. Dress - All reporters dress and act professionally at all meetings, games, interviews and other newsworthy events where professional attire is expected.
   4. Petitions - To preserve objectivity, writers who sign petitions may not cover any subjects related to the petition’s topic. To prevent the appearance or existence of conflict of interest in the assignment and editing of stories, department editors never sign petitions. Managing Board members never sign petitions individually in order to prevent the appearance of any official endorsements by The College Voice. Actual official endorsements will be carried out in lead editorials.
   5. Spokesperson - NO College Voice staff members may speak for the College Voice in an official capacity except for the editor-in-chief. All other staff members must acknowledge, when speaking in public and associated in any way with the College Voice, that their views are their own and not those of the College Voice.
   6. Responsiveness - Staff members will respond to, or report to the editor-in-chief, all requests for information, or queries and concerns of the campus community and the general public.

Coverage:
   1. Topics - The College Voice covers as many newsworthy events in the College community as possible, recognizing that coverage decisions will be based on comparative newsworthiness of story ideas and space and resource constraints. We do not refrain from covering events that already have been covered by another medium in the College community.
   2. Requesting Coverage – Any campus or community member who believes they have an topic worthy of newspaper coverage is encouraged to bring it to the attention of the Editorial Board; the easiest way to do so is to e-mail the paper at mercervoice@gmail.com with a description of the event including dates and times along with contact information. The EB will evaluate all ideas brought for its consideration, and will assign a reporter to cover any story that is deemed newsworthy.  
   3. Complimentary Tickets – As is standard in the journalism industry, when an event planner wants to ensure that a particular event receives coverage in the College Voice, they should contact the College Voice in advance to request coverage and should provide complimentary tickets or an entrance pass for press. The provision of tickets does not ensure a “positive” article. Except in the case of opinion pieces such as reviews and editorials, all articles will be balanced in their coverage without any positive or negative bias whatever. Opinion pieces are the exception and represent only the personal opinion of the reviewer. All opinion pieces are clearly identified as such by appearing on the Op/Ed or reviews pages of the paper.
   4. Participation - To preserve objectivity, staffers who cover events or groups may not participate in those events or groups. Editors must refrain from editing content relating to groups or events they have participated in.

Interviewing:
   1. Accuracy – Reporters must always verify the accuracy of their quotes and information after the completion of an interview by reading them back to the source or by verifying them via e-mail.
   2. Events – When covering large scale events such as fund-raisers, galas and performances, reporters will make every effort to interview the organizers ahead of time to get ample background information. When reporters attend events they are expected to arrive at least five minutes early and stay for the entire event in order to ensure thorough reporting. They will attempt to avoid inconveniencing event participants and will not disrupt any formal proceedings. They may, however, talk to all participants as opportunities arise during the course of any event. Set interview times and places are made only for talking one-on-one with event coordinators or school administrators, faculty, staff or trustees.
   3. Questions – Reporters do not supply a list of questions to any interview subject ahead of time. Reporters’ questions are aimed solely at recording the truth in its entirety. Questions should be polite whenever possible, but may be pointed or firm if necessary.  
   4. Calling at Home – Reporters will not call sources at home or late at night.
   5. E-mail Interviews – Time constraints sometimes require that interviews be conducted via e-mail correspondence, but this method must be used only as a last resort. Face-to-face interviews are always preferable. When conducing an interview via e-mail, the reporter must make it clear that the responses made will be “on the record” and may be quoted for the article. E-mail interviews must be identified as such using the phrase “In an e-mail interview [person’s name] said” before any quote or paraphrase given in the text.
   6. Advance Copies – Advance copies of articles are not sent to interview subjects or College administrators for their approval under any circumstances. However, all interview subjects may request that an editor or senior writer accompany any junior reporter on an interview. Furthermore, interview subjects may call or e-mail the editor-in-chief to go over any direct quotes or paraphrases that may appear in the article to ensure accuracy. Note: the reporter must also check facts with the interview subject; if this does not occur, the subject may contact the EB and request that the article not appear in print until fact checking has occurred.
   7. Private meetings - Reporters use the phrase “in an interview with the College Voice” when describing interviews with prominent figures who have met or spoken privately with College Voice reporters and/or editors. Reporters may use the phrase “in an exclusive interview with the College Voice” when the College Voice is the only member of the media interviewing that figure.

Names & Identification:
   1. Names & Titles - When individuals are identified for the first time in an article, their professional title should be given followed by their first and last name (for example: Dean of Student Affairs, Dr. Diane Campbell). All names and titles must be double checked by reporters. When students are interviewed, their title is given as their year at Mercer followed by their major (for example: sophomore Liberal Arts major, Jorge Sanders-Ramirez). When Mercer County or other local residents are interviewed they are identified by name and residence location (for example: Sgt. Andrew Atkins of West Windsor Township).
   2. Charged or Convicted - To provide stories that are fully informative, the names of suspects identified by the police or those charged with crimes are printed. Persons who have been convicted also will be named.
   3. Suspects - For safety reasons, suspects at large are identified in news stories by all known characteristics, including race. Stories will refer to a suspect’s charges as “alleged” until guilt is determined by the appropriate court of law.
   4. Victims - To avoid further public injury, the victims of assaults are not named, unless they are public figures.

Sources & Citations:
   1. Anonymity - Reporters can quote sources without naming them in their stories only if they know the sources’ names, and the sources offer firsthand knowledge of an event or conversation which could not be obtained elsewhere. Sources who offer information cannot be quoted if they refuse to give their true identities to The College Voice and cannot offer a sufficient explanation why they do not want their names to appear in the paper. Sources who make legitimate requests that their names not be used and offer important information will be cited anonymously. Their true identities will not be revealed to the outside community. Reporting based on anonymous sources has the potential to undermine credibility and should be rare. An anonymous source must be cleared by the editor-in-chief and the faculty advisor.
   2. On or Off the Record - Any information a source gives while speaking “on the record” can be cited or used in a news story. Information gathered from sources who explicitly say all or part of an interview is “off the record” cannot be attributed to that source. A reporter may, however, use the off-the-record information when speaking to other sources without identifying the initial source. If those other sources confirm or give the same information as the initial source while speaking on the record, that information can then be used or cited in the story.
   3. Contact - If a reporter repeatedly calls and leaves messages for a source without successfully making contact before deadline time, the reporter may indicate that the source “could not be reached for comment.”
   4. Number - Reporters must cite at least two sources in every news story. The only exception is a story that involves a subject only one source can discuss.

Editing:
   1. Process - Every article appearing in the College Voice must undergo a lengthy editing process intended to prevent all mistakes in grammar, accuracy and omission. All pieces, including those appearing in the opinion section are edited by at least two editors including the editor-in-chief for style and content. The story may also be read and critiqued by the faculty advisor to the College Voice for feedback at any point.
    Any story deemed potentially sensitive or libelous may be withheld from publication by either an editor or the Faculty Adviser. The editor-in-chief is responsible for all matters of taste, libel and any other potential legal issues, but the decision to run or not run a particularly sensitive story must be made by convening the editors and putting it to a vote.
   2. References:
         a. Stylebook -The College Voice follows the Associated Press stylebook in all references to race, ethnicity, sexual orientation and national origin. Such language reflects that conventionally considered most accurate, unbiased and representative.
         b. Sexual Crimes - In cases of sexual crimes, the word “rape” is always used when appropriate; “Sexual assault” is used to define all forms of sexual crimes other than rape. The policy parallels the police department’s policy for description of sexual crimes.

Layout:
   1. Lead stories - The lead story always is placed on the top, right-hand corner of the page - the area that tends to attract the human eye’s attention first.
   2. Positioning - Positions of stories on each page are determined by the editors based on the stories’ newsworthiness and appeal. More important stories are positioned above less newsworthy stories.

Graphical elements:
All graphics express the artist’s own interpretation of the column or article he or she is illustrating. In order to provide an accurate supporting graphic that does not editorialize on its own, artwork for the Opinion page generally may not use people or words. The exception to this rule is made for editorial cartoons which are clearly identified as such.

Corrections:
   1. Circumstances - Corrections will be printed when the College Voice has made a significant spelling, typographical, reporting or editing error.
   2. When to Print - The College Voice will print all verified corrections, retractions and clarifications as soon as possible. Such corrections, retractions and clarifications will include the headline of the original story, its date of publication and the correct information. Corrections, retractions and clarifications are approved by the editor-in-chief.
   3. Online Version - In addition to posting all clarifications, corrections and retractions online, the College Voice edits the original story on the Web site to be as accurate as possible. If an article must be         retracted, it is immediately removed from the online edition.
   4. Letter to the Editor Option - In lieu of a correction, retraction or clarification, the College Voice offers the opportunity for an involved party to write a letter to the editor.

Copyrights & Reproduction:
All material featured in the College Voice or the College Voice Online Edition is copyrighted and the exclusive property of the College Voice. No portion of these publications may be copied or reproduced without the express written permission of the editor-in-chief. The editor-in-chief will consult with the staff member producing the work before permission to reprint or otherwise copy a piece is given.

Online Policy
   1. General - The College Voice Online Edition follows all general policies except where otherwise noted.
   2. What is it? - The College Voice Online Edition is the College Voice’s Web site. All student-produced portions of the print version appear in the online version. Courtesy photographs appear as well. No Associated Press or syndicated stories, graphical elements or photos appear online.
   3. Differences from Print Version - Elements in the College Voice Online Edition may be different from those in the print version. Stories, headline and captions are not cut for space considerations.
   4. Special Features - In addition, the College Voice Online Edition may carry special features that do not occur in the print edition.
   5. Maintenance - The College Voice Online Edition may be assembled and maintained by an online manager or webmaster, but the final authority over all content on the College Voice Online Edition rests with the Editorial Board and the editor-in-chief.
  6. Links - The College Voice Online Edition also features links to several external Web sites such as other online publications for the benefit of its users. The College Voice is not responsible for the content of any Web sites linked from The College Voice Online Edition.
  7. Updates - The College Voice Online Edition will be updated as often as possible, particularly when there is breaking news.

Complaints
At first, complaints about the behavior of a member of the College Voice staff or about the content of an article should be made in writing to the Faculty Adviser within one month of any incident or the publication date. She will consider the complaint and reply in writing within seven working days, provided the complaint is lodged by an individual or group with a direct interest.
    If the complainant is unhappy with the Faculty Adviser’s response and course of action, they may ask the Dean of Students to call a meeting of the College Voice Editorial Board and Faculty Adviser to consider their complaint.
    If no amicable settlement can be reached, the Dean of Students --in conjunction with any other administrators she deems appropriate-- will convene withing fourteen working days of having received the complaint. In conjunction with the Faculty Adviser she may advocate for whatever remedy is most effecient for remediating the problem, providing it does not involve any financial penalty nor the removal from office of the Faculty Adviser not cause any First Amendment or other legal violation.


Business & Advertising Policy

Advertisements:
   1. Editor - The advertising editor (or the editorial board if there is no current advertising editor) decides the placement of all display advertisements in the College Voice. College Voice copy takes precedence over advertisements.
   2. Prepayment - Prepayment of an advertisement does not guarantee publication, because all advertising is subject to review by the advertising manager and the Managing Board. The Managing Board reserves the right to refuse any advertisement, including inserts, or to label any ad that does not identify its sponsor clearly as “Paid Advertisement.”
   3. Rate Adjustment - The College Voice reserves the right to adjust advertising rates with 30 days notice.
   4. Materials - The College Voice is not responsible for materials submitted for use in ad production unless given prior instructions for return when submitted.
   5. Rejection - The College Voice reserves the right to reject ads for reasons of taste, suitability for its readership, or if there are significant concerns about the business practices of the advertising entity. In all such cases the matter must be settled by a majority vote by the Editorial Board.
   6. Tearsheets - The College Voice will send tearsheets to advertisers to confirm that an ad has appeared in print so long as a request for tearsheets is made in advance of publication.

Corrections:
   1. Make-Goods - Adjustments for material errors or omissions will be made at the discretion of the advertising manager. No adjustments will be made unless the error or omission is reported to the advertising manager within two weeks of the ad’s publication. Liability for adjustments is limited to the cost of the advertisement. The College Voice is not liable for printer error.
   2. Ads - Any changes in copy must be submitted in writing prior to the advertising deadline.

Cancellations:
   1. Deadlines - All cancellations must be made prior to the advertising deadline.
   2. Refunds - Advertisers who pull an advertisement after the deadline will be charged the full cost of the ad. There is no refund for canceled classified ads.

Liability:
The advertiser assumes all liability for any ad it places in the College Voice and agrees to hold the College Voice and its agents harmless for the content of all advertising authorized for publication, including any photograph, likeness, name, logo, trademark, representation or any other material the advertiser provides. Responsibility for libel is joint and several between the College Voice and the advertiser.

Copyright:
By placing an ad the College Voice, advertisers are purchasing space and circulation only. All artwork and typesetting produced by the College Voice becomes the newspaper’s property and cannot be used by the advertiser in other publications without written permission from the College Voice.

The News Department

Beats:
   1. Specific Beats - Senior staff writers are assigned one of the following beats to cover:
         a. Campus Politics & Student Life
         b. Academics & Administration
         c. Local Community
         d. Sports
         e. Arts & Entertainment
         f. Science & Health
         g. Crime & Safety  
   2. Responsibilities - Staff writers are responsible for covering all aspects of their beat and writing stories assigned by their beat’s editor
   3. Editing - In addition to their writing duties, staff writers may, with permission, assist the editors in editing duties.
   4. Junior Writers - Junior writers may be assigned to a variety of beats in order to gain experience in different types of reporting. All junior writers are mentored by an editor or senior writer who is assigned to the beat the junior writer is currently covering.

Seniority:
All new reporters begin at the status of junior reporter. If a reporter continues to write for the College Voice for two semesters, he or she is automatically promoted to the rank of senior writer. In certain exceptional cases, an editor may decide that a writer has gained enough experience to become a senior writer and may bring the promotion to the EB for a vote. Senior writers are assigned more challenging and time consuming stories. Writing rank is indicated below the byline. Junior writers are listed as “Reporter,” senior writers as “Senior Reporter,” and editors who write articles are identified as “The College Voice.”

Coverage Issues:
   1. Bomb Threats - Unlike professional newspapers in large, unenclosed communities, the College Voice considers bomb threats in the College community newsworthy.
   2. Deaths - The College Voice covers all deaths of members of the College community, even when the cause of death is suicide.

Features:
   1. Cover stories - The News page occasionally will include a cover story - a news feature that takes an investigative look at a particular event or issue of human interest. Cover stories always are made to look distinct and recognizable as features.
   2. News Analyses - A story that examines a news event or issue from an interpretive angle must be labeled as a “News Analysis.” News analyses often rely on expert sources to illustrate a viewpoint on an issue or event
  3. Editorial Cartoons – Any editorial cartoon reflects only the opinion of the cartoonist.

Graphic Art:
Graphical elements are assigned to columns at the editor-in-chief’s discretion.

Outside Submissions:
   1. Acceptance - Submissions critical of the College Voice are considered along with all other submissions and have the same chance of being printed as any other submissions.
   2. Editing - Outside submissions always are subject to editing for grammar, brevity and elements of College Voice style. Submissions longer than 400 words will be edited for length unless they are over 650 words in length and give in depth treatment to a certain topic, in which case they will be considered for publication as “guest viewpoints.” or the day of an election, to prevent partisans for one side going unanswered.
   4. Responding to Authors - Outside submissions that respond to all material on the opinion page and to opinion pieces on other pages (e.g. reviews, perspectives, sports columns) must name the College Voice writer. All other responses will not mention the writer.
   5. Contact – The appropriate editor always calls an author whose submission will require substantial editing or cutting. If time permits, the author is offered the opportunity to make changes himself. Editors also call all letter writers to confirm their identity and to let them know when their submissions are scheduled to appear.

Letters to the Editor:
   1. Acceptance - Priority is always given to letters fewer than 400 words. Letters must include the author’s signature, telephone number, school, year and title, if appropriate.
   2. Submission - Letters to the editor can be submitted by anyone - student, faculty members, staff members, administrators, College affiliates, Mercer residents, etc. Unsigned letters are never printed. No more than two signatures will be printed, and no letter can be attributed to an organization as a whole. College Voice staffers cannot submit letters to the editor.


Photography Policy

Captions:
Except in the case of stock photos no photos are ever run without a caption identifying the main group, person or people featured in the photo. Unless the photo size does not permit, students are identified with the name and title if applicable; faculty members are identified with name and department; all others are identified with name and place of residence.

Coverage:
   1. General – Staff photographers will generally be assigned to beats and paired with staff writers in so far as possible, but their beat assignment may shift from issue to issue.
   2. Tip-offs - Photographers generally cover events on the basis of departmental assignments. When the Voice receive phone tip-offs, however, the editors use their discretion in sending photographers to cover the event.

Credits:
   1. Photo Illustrations - Posed pictures will be labeled in the credit as Photo Illustrations and are used for graphical artwork to present the general concept of a story. Except for photo illustrations and portraits, all photographs are candid shots.
   2. Placement – Except in the case of stock photos, credits always appear in small capital letters at the lower right-hand corner of the photograph unless the photograph is smaller than two inches.
   3. Timeliness - Photos taken within a week of publication or from the most recent sporting event are credited with the photographer’s name. Photos more than a week old or earlier are credited with the photographer’s name and College Voice File Photo. Sports photos of a different game than described in the article are credited with the photographer’s name and College Voice File Photo. File photos taken by the current Board members or a former College Voice staff member who has graduated are credited only as a File Photo.

Features:
Photo essays, collections of photos presented to illustrate a theme, occasionally appear. They may also appear on The College Voice Online Edition.

Photo Use:
   1. Distortion - All published photos are accurate representations of reality. Photo techniques that distort the image will be identified in the caption (e.g. multiple exposure or use of a wide-angle lens). Ideally, published photos will be in focus, exposed well and free of glaring scratches or imperfections.
   2. Color & Brightening – Because newsprint darkens photos, photos may be color balanced in Photoshop prior to placement.
   3. Duplication - The same photo will never be published twice except in cases of small mug shots or when a different photo is unavailable.
   4. Requests Otherwise - Requests of those who ask that their photograph not be taken or used are honored unless the person is a public figure or is participating in a public event or newsworthy action.
   5. Timeliness - whenever possible, photos should be taken as close to the day the paper is assembled as possible. It is always preferable to take and publish recent photos rather than older photos. Old or file photos are used only when it is otherwise impossible or inconvenient to use a more recent photo, or if a current high-quality photo is not available. The most recent and most relevant photo will be printed.

Reproduction:
   1. Reprints -The College Voice may send digital copies of pictures to other publications as a professional courtesy subject to the permission of the editor-in-chief. The publication is authorized to publish the picture only once with credit to both the photographer and The College Voice. At the photographer’s discretion, staff members may send digital copies of pictures to individuals for their personal use.
   2. Rights - All photos taken for the College Voice, like all other original works, are the property of the College Voice. Reproduction of such materials requires the express written permission of the editor-in-chief except when the staff photographer is assembling a personal portfolio.

Graphics:
Graphics should supplement that article they go with. They should not make their own separate commentary or be able to stand without the article.

APPENDIX A: Code of Ethics

The Code:
The College Voice believes the duty of an independent student newspaper is to act as a carrier of information and a forum for discussion for the College community.

WE BELIEVE the duty of student journalists, as agents of independent student newspapers and as American journalists, is to serve the truth.

WE BELIEVE independent student newspapers contribute to public enlightenment, acting on their Constitutional freedom to learn and report the facts and seeking truth as a part of the College community’s right to know the truth.

WE BELIEVE those responsibilities carry obligations requiring student journalists to perform with intelligence, objectivity, accuracy and fairness.

To these ends, we declare acceptance of the standards of practice here set forth:

Responsibility:
Serving the College community’s right to know the truth concerning events of public importance and interest is the unifying mission of any independent student newspaper. The motive behind gathering and distributing accurate news and enlightened opinion is to serve the general welfare of the College community. Student journalists who use their status as representatives of that community for selfish or other unworthy motives violate a trust without which independent student journalism cannot operate.

Freedom of the Press: Amendment I
Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.

Ethics:
Student journalists must be free of obligation to any interest other than the College community’s right to know the truth.

   1. Gifts, favors, free travel, special treatment or privileges can compromise the integrity of student journalists. Nothing of value should be accepted in exchange for special coverage, free advertising or endorsements.
   2. Use of a position with The College Voice to gain personal advantage or to make inquiries for any other purpose than work for The College Voice is strictly prohibited.
   3. Staff members are not permitted to use information not yet made available to the public for personal gain.
   4. Staff members may not use College Voice equipment, supplies, services, resources, or other materials owned, purchased, or designated as property of the College Voice for any purpose other than work for the College Voice.
   5. Staff members may not threaten sources or promise favorable coverage or money in exchange for information.
   6. Staff members must fully disclose their identity to all sources.
   7. Staff members must ask sources before recording conversations.
   8. Staff members must obey the law.
   9. Involvement in student politics, holding student government office and service in College organizations should be avoided if it compromises the integrity of student journalists. Student journalists should conduct their personal lives as College students in a way that protects them from conflict of interest. Their responsibilities to the College community are paramount.
  10. So-called press releases from government or private sources, student organizations or College officials should not be published without substantiation of their claims and evaluation of their news value.
  11. Student journalists will seek news that serves the College community’s interest, despite the obstacles. They will make constant efforts to assure that the College community’s business in conducted in public and those public records are open to public inspection.
  12. Student journalists acknowledge the ethic of protecting confidential sources of information.
  13. Plagiarism is an ultimate violation of trust and credibility with our readership and will not be tolerated at The College Voice. Any and all material taken from another source must be appropriately cited and attributed, including:
         a. Information from press releases
         b. Little-known facts from authoritative sources
         c. Unique stylistic traits, devices or wording
         d. Both widely available news and news not widely available obtained from other sources
         e. Information from another media outlet’s exclusive story or scoop
         f. Information obtained through the efforts of another party or source

Accuracy and Objectivity:
Just as good faith with the public is the foundation of all worthy journalism, so is good faith with the College community the basis of all worthy student journalism.
   1. Truth is our ultimate goal.
   2. Objectivity in reporting the news is another goal, which serves as the mark of an experienced professional. It is a standard of performance toward which we strive. We honor those who achieve it.
   3. There is no excuse for inaccuracies or lack of thoroughness.
   4. Headlines should be fully warranted by the contents of the articles they accompany. Graphic elements should depict an event’s happenings accurately. Photographs should never be altered for any reason except for brightening when printing on newsprint.
   5. News reports should be free of opinion or bias and represent all sides of an issue.
   6. Partisanship in editorial comment, which knowingly departs from the truth, is unacceptable.
   7. Student journalists recognize their responsibility to offer informed analysis, comment and editorial opinion on public events and issues in the College community.
   8. News analyses, reviews, opinion columns and perspectives pieces should be labeled as such, so as not to mislead.

Fair Play:
Student journalists at all times will show respect for the dignity, privacy, rights and well-being of people encountered in the course of gathering and presenting news.
   1. The student newspaper should not communicate unofficial charges affecting reputation or moral character without giving the accused a chance to reply.
   2. The student newspaper must guard against invading a person’s right to privacy.
   3. The student newspaper should not pander to morbid curiosity about details of vice and crime.
   4. It is the duty of the student newspaper to make prompt and complete correction of its errors.
   5. Student journalists should be accountable to the College community for their reports and the College community should be encouraged to voice its grievances against the student newspaper. Open dialogue with our readers should be fostered.

Note: Portions of this code of ethics, as well as the following conflict of interest guidelines, were adapted from the Code of Ethics of the Society of Professional Journalists: Sigma Delta Chi, the New York Times “Ethical Journalism: Code of Conduct for the News and Editorial Departments,” and “Second Takes,” a product of the Oregonian Publishing Company.

APPENDIX B: Conflict of Interest Guidelines

This newspaper is committed to avoiding conflict of interest or the appearance of conflicts of interest whenever and wherever possible. On a general level, this means we, as staff members, make every reasonable effort to be free of obligation to news sources and special interest groups. Although collegiate journalism often deviates from real-world newspaper work, we strive for a high level of professionalism. There are particulars associated with collegiate journalism that require more specific guidelines. Certain restrictions are more binding than others. Staff members who sense they may be in a potentially conflicting situation are expected to discuss the circumstance with the editor-in-chief immediately. Decisions are made in correspondence with the following guidelines:

Outside Activities:
   1. Staffers at all levels should not cover or write about events in which they play official roles or organizations in which they are members. (Examples: Members of any student group cannot write about that student group. Members of a sports team cannot write about that sport.)
   2. News editors and associate editors should not be affiliated with student government in any capacity.
   3. News writers should not write about areas of student government in which they hold a position.
   4. No staff member at the associate editor level or above may hold a position elected through a College election unless specific approval is granted by the editor-in-chief. All other staffers must disclose their position or intent to run for an elected position before working for The College Voice.
   5. Staff members at all levels may not participate in certain events or groups, if, through their participation, they are unable to fulfill their obligations (editorial of otherwise) to The College Voice due to the potential for conflict of interest.
   6. If junior board editors acquire or intend to acquire leadership roles within other organizations who advocate positions on College or other policy, they must consult the managing board in advance.
   7. Staff columnists may not argue for organizations in which they are members.
   8. Staff columnists may not directly mention organizations in which they are members unless the affiliation is then expressed in their signatures.
   9. Staff columnists may make indirect reference to organizations in which they are members, but not on a regular basis. The executive editor will decide when indirect references have become too regular.
  10. Opinion editors and associate editors may not ever write about anything directly related to any organizations in which they are members.
  11. A writer running for a student government office must suspend their work at The College Voice until the elections are over, and their names will be removed temporarily from the staff box.
  12. Staff members at the associate editor level or above may not march, donate money, rally, speak in a public location, or table if these actions are, explicitly or implicitly, advocating a position on a public issue, or publicly display political partisanship outside the pages of the College Voice. In doing so, staffers could effectively be “creating the news” and may create a perception of bias in the College Voice’s coverage. Expressed views should be within the bounds of those that could be expressed on the College Voice’s pages, and should not regard issues of coverage or policy—the editor-in-chief is the sole spokesperson in this regard.
  13. Any appearance of bias will not be tolerated in restaurant reviews, fashion columns, music and movie reviews/previews, and any other feature story regarding College events or groups, particularly upcoming events. The strictest care must be taken to avoid conflicts of interest in these areas, and to avoid even the appearance of “advertising” or in any other way promoting one event and/or group over another, even if actual participation in the group or event has not occurred. All ideas for these stories should be generated in-house, and suggestions for story ideas from outside sources must be thoroughly scrutinized by the appropriate junior board editor before a balanced decision is made on coverage choices.
  14. Freelance writers and photographers and guest columnists appearing in the College Voice are also bound to these rules, unless explicit permission is granted by the editor-in-chief.

Work for Other Publications:
   1. Staff members at any level should not have any involvement with any other news gathering student publication, including submission of guest columns, or work submitted under a pseudonym.
   2. Staff members interested in submitting work or taking an editorial position with any other media organization must consult the editor-in-chief.
   3. Freelance work for media organizations outside the College community is permissible as long as it does not interfere with responsibilities to The College Voice and is not completed with information or resources made available to the staffer through his or her work for The College Voice. If freelance work becomes frequent (more than once a month, for example), staff members should discuss the work with the editor-in-chief.

Whom to Interview, Photograph:
Reporters and photographers should not interview, quote or photograph other College Voice staff members, family members, apartment-mates, roommates or friends, unless explicit permission is granted by the editor-in-chief.

APPENDIX C: The College Voice Constitution

Article I – Name
The name of the newspaper shall be the College Voice.

Article II – Purpose
The primary purpose is to publish a student newspaper directed primarily at the students, faculty and employees of Mercer County Community College and its neighboring areas, containing educational and informational articles not normally or frequently contained in the commercial press, and a significant amount of news and editorial coverage and general student comments of particular interest to the college community. A secondary purpose of the organization is to promote interest in collegiate print journalism and to educate and train students at Mercer County Community College in the art of print and online journalism.

Article III – Principles
     • Truth is our ultimate goal.
     • Objectivity in reporting the news is another goal. News reports should be free of opinion or bias and represent all sides of an issue.
     • The content of the College Voice should never mislead.
     • Student reporters, who are gaining experience and skills, must be guided by the Faculty Adviser. When errors occur they must be discussed and analyzed to ensure improvement and movement toward the ideals of journalism.

Article IV – Membership
   1. Anti-discrimination Clause - The College Voice does not discriminate based on age, citizenship, color, disability, gender, race, religion, national origin, political affiliation, sexual orientation or status as a disabled veteran. The College Voice actively seeks a diverse staff.
   2. Eligibility - Any Mercer County Community College student carrying 6 or more credits while maintaining a GPA of 2.5 or higher is eligible to become a member of the organization provided they are either enrolled in or have completed CMN 131 - Journalism I or have applied for and been accepted to a staff position by the Editorial Board in consultation with the Faculty Adviser.
   3. Vacancies - If for any reason staff positions become vacant and there are not enough members on the Editorial Board to have a majority vote on new hires (i.e. fewer than three), positions may be filled by the Faculty Adviser. The College Voice is an equal opportunity employer, and reserves the right to restrict membership based on an ability to perform the activities related to the organization’s purpose.
    4. Staff Positions – Staff positions include: editor-in-chief, managing editor, photo editor, webmaster, design/layout editor, copy editor, viewpoints editor, arts & entertainment editor, other section editors and junior and senior writers/reporters and photographers. Applications for anticipated vacancies are sought before the end of each academic term. Applicants must fill out an application (available in the College Voice office), pass an editorial exam if applying to become an editor, be interviewed by the editorial board and then receive a majority vote of approval from the EB in consultation with the FA.

Article V – Officers
The Editorial Board is made up of the following individuals:
==>    The editor-in-chief
==>    The managing editor (who may also hold another editorial position as well)
==>    The sports editor
==>    The arts & entertainment editor
==>    The layout & design editor
==>    The photo editor
==>    The viewpoints editor
==>    The online editor/webmaster
==>    The advertising editor
Other editorial positions may be added when necessary as determined by the EIC in consultation with the FA.

Article VI – Responsibilities
The responsibilities of the editor-in-chief and section editors are many. Typically the editors work together to determine what topics will be covered in each issue of the newspaper. Each editor is responsible for generating topics for his or her own section and assigning them to staff writers in cooperation with the Faculty Adviser. The editors work together to make sure that all key campus and local events are covered by the paper and that every issue of the paper features a balanced variety of articles on topics of interest to their audience.
    Editors also literally edit the articles that are submitted by their staff writers. Editors decide which articles are good enough to appear in print, and which are not. The editor-in-chief can refuse to run any article that she feels is unfit. Final responsibility for the content of the paper rests with the editor-in-chief. The managing editor is second in command and stands in for the editor-in-chief when he or she is not able to govern. Editors also write the headlines for all articles. Finally, they work to organize special issues, they put together community service events, they nominate writers and photographers for recognition, and they have input into how funds are directed.

Article VIII – Termination
Any staff member who graduates is automatically terminated from his or her position at the College Voice. Likewise, any student who ceases to maintain the 2.5 GPA and 6 credit minimum course requirement for membership is automatically terminated from his or her position at the College Voice. A staff member who is deemed to have flagrantly violated any part of the code or intent of the policies of the College Voices, as expressed in the Policy Manual or the College Voice Constitution, may be removed from his or her position by a majority vote of the Editorial Board. The Faculty Adviser may terminate any reporter found to have flagrantly violated any part of the code or intent of the policies of the College Voice, when that reporter serves the Voice specifically as a result of taking a journalism course and does not serve in any other capacity.

Article IX – Compensation
The editor-in-chief and the managing editor (who may also serve as a section editor) are compensated through partial tuition remission for either 6 credits or half of their credit load (which ever is greater) for the semester in which they hold the top editorial office.

Article X – Meeting Procedures
Meetings of the College Voice Editorial Board occur not less than once a week during the each academic term. After initial discussion, any business requiring a majority vote is conducted. Voting will be postponed if a two-thirds majority of staff members is not present. Voting may be conducted by a show of hands or an anonymous ballot vote if requested.

Article XI – Miscellaneous
When the rules and policies of this organization, the content of its Constitution, or the actions of its members conflict with College regulations, the latter shall prevail.

[Originally established and ratified by: Editor-in-chief: Alex Hough Date: 4/18/2008      
Reratified by Editor-in-Chief Susana Sanchez  Date: 8/31/2008  
Reratified by Editor-in-Chief David Hoyt Date 8/31/2009]
Current Ratification by Editor-in-Chief Sara Gatling and Managing Editor Dmitry Gurvits  Date: 1/15/2010
                         

© Copyright 2008 - The College Voice:
Mercer County Community College
PO Box B, Trenton, NJ 08690