A.) What was the article about?
The Article was about a Justice Anthony M. Kennedy, who spoke at Dalton High School, and basically violated their first amendment rights by changing and approving and any articles that had been written for their high school newspaper, the Daltonian.
B.) How does all the content of this article apply to the profession of journalism along with the conduct and production of our own newspaper, the Tiger Rag?
In the profession of journalism, it is almost never a good thing to let someone control what you want to write. It is a journalist job to report the facts, not just tell the readers what they want to hear. The Tiger Rag is much like the Daltonian. Both newspapers have high school students writing about what goes on in and around their school. Everyone is born with equal rights including high school students. Just because we are high school students, doesn’t mean that people are allowed to control and censor what we write. One quote from the article that really seems to speak to me was when Mr. LoMonte said, “If you’re old enough to drive a tank, you’re old enough to write a headline.” This statement is extremely true. To me is seemed like Justice Kennedy didn’t trust Dalton High School students to get the written word out and rely what he really meant.
C.) What questions are you left with? Share at least two, and feel free to elaborate on them thoughtfully.
One question that I do have is why would a Justice, who was once a high school student himself, would think that high school students were unable to get the facts straight. Another question that I have is that, Why were these high school students afraid to stand up for their first amendment rights and write the article anyway?
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteI completely agree with your questions! These students should have said something or stood up for their rights! And, yes, I think we high school students are just as capable at getting facts straight as an elder journalist. I think that it's way too much of a slippery slope and I bet the Justice might be regretting this ruckus he has brought about...
ReplyDeleteThis is true, and I agree. If journalists are supposed to get the facts straight, then let them do so, and don't censor what they wright. Firstly, because of the First Amendment, and secondly, if they made a mistake, then they get the punishment for it, which is essentially a good thing. And I also never thought about the fact that the students didn't stand up for their rights. I think that it would have been bold if they had done so, but so many people look down on students these days, its a little depressing.
ReplyDeleteI like your questions. And, I'm glad that our class isn't afraid to write what we want and stand up for our rights and such..
ReplyDeleteAssuming the Justice was the one who requested a review, I think he may be just a tad wrapped up in himself. I can see someone of his stature thinking that high schoolers are just kids, and that they probably couldn't get a quote right to save their lives. So I agree with you, Maggie, that he's forgotten what it's like to be a kid himself. He's forgotten that at that age, he was perfectly competent in recording things correctly, just like the students currently attending Dalton High School.
ReplyDeleteHmm... Jenny, I must say, your perspective really is making me think a bit more about that possible aspect... It's amazing how often adults say they remember just what it was like being a teenager, but yet nothing they do or say really shows that when they're around us teens.
ReplyDeleteMaggie-
ReplyDeleteI like the point you brought up about him not remembering what it's like to be a kid. It's too bad based off his own assumptions that he is the one who appears ignorant.
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteMaggie:
ReplyDeleteYour reflections at the end were poignant and thought-provoking, to say the least. Don’t hesitate to elaborate a bit more in your summary section, however. As for comments on your ideas, there’s little doubt that Justice Kennedy is no ordinary “Joe Plumber” by any means. As a result, the treatment such a source, especially for a small town student newspaper, gets a completely different pair of gloves (by the advisor and administration alike, I would imagine). I mentioned in another blog that recording interviews is vital to quotation accuracy, and that obviously is true in a “high profile” situation like this one. Also, remember that while students do have “equal rights” in this society, the Hazelwood Case (remember this from early in first quarter?) established that anything that could be deemed a distraction to the learning environment is something that can be censored by a building administrator. However, a political pressure hardly falls under that category, so this story (and situation) does raise many important questions for our staff as well. Great discussion everyone!
“If you’re old enough to drive a tank, you’re old enough to write a headline.” I really like how you pulled this out. I was taken away by that as well. It kind of makes you think. And makes sence completely. Very nice!
ReplyDelete