As Case Western Reserve University’s student-led newspaper, The Observer strives to report on topics pertaining to the community. And, during this precarious time, it is more important than ever before that we remain true to our code of being transparent, accurate and accountable with the information we publish.
Unlike traditional news outlets, student journalism, in broadcast and in print, relies on articles by students, for students. Often, it is student journalists who are able to provide vital on-the-ground coverage of events important to the campus body they represent. Last May, Columbia University’s radio station WKCR provided 24/7 coverage of clashes between the police and student protesters when mainstream media outlets could not enter campus premises. In 2023, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill’s student newspaper The Daily Tar Heel published their viral front page design highlighting student experiences during the school shooting on Aug. 28, 2023. Situations like these have become more frequent in recent years and support the need for powerful, factual and ethical student journalism.
This starts and ends with protecting the communities we represent. We do not condone the dissemination of personal details without consent from the affected parties, especially if they are vulnerable and may receive backlash for their perspectives or actions. The ethical codes of other news organizations do not influence what we publish; we ardently report the full story, but we will never compromise on our journalistic integrity and empathy for the individuals involved.
A commitment to journalism that is effective—yet cognizant of the audience we serve—is woven into every aspect of our production. Each paper starts with a curated list of pitches—the campus and Cleveland happenings we hope to cover that week. Identifying these stories is an involved process, requiring us to scour campus newsletters, local news outlets and tips from those on and off campus. Even our weekly editorials are made to reflect the campus climate and present a perspective we feel strongly about and believe others would find relevant.
These articles are then put through three tiers of editing: section editors make bulk edits, copy editors check style and facts and directors oversee the final revisions. Each layer of editing serves a unique purpose, ensuring the content is stylistically, grammatically and factually sound. It is important to note, though, that this process is not always linear. When faced with controversial topics or news stories with conflicting information, writing and editing a piece demands discussion in which every claim made and quote used is scrutinized. The information we eventually decide to publish is what we, as a collective, deem to be accurate, beneficial, informative and most importantly, not egregiously inflammatory. If not, we regroup, restudy and prioritize publishing a well-written article over a perfectly-timed one.
It is of utmost importance for us to include student comments in each article we write, piecing perspectives together into one cohesive narrative. Often, this involves asking questions that provoke passionate and honest responses. For this reason, we emphasize anonymity as an option for all students eager to make their voices heard but fearful of the consequences. Anonymity does not make a perspective any less hard-hitting or evocative. At The Observer, anonymity serves as a necessary protection rather than a barrier to the legitimacy of our content.
This anonymity, though, is not universally applied. Student leaders and student activists who have willingly put themselves in the public eye are often named in our pieces. These figures represent much larger communities, including clubs, government or advocacy groups, and thus deserve to be properly recognized in our paper. For better or for worse, statements from student leaders carry weight. And we believe maintaining integrity in our reporting means prioritizing transparency and ensuring our audience is adequately informed—highlighting and properly assessing the voices of the leaders on our campus.
As student journalists, we are uniquely positioned to be a part of the community we represent. This is our badge of honor; we are dedicated to engaging credibly and effectively with the student, faculty and staff body that comprises our home away from home. Reporting on fellow students comes with its fair share of difficulties, but it also informs our journalistic ethics and integrity. That is why we urge you, our readers, to engage with our coverage and recognize the perspectives we can provide that other major outlets cannot. For us, headlines matter, “the scoop” matters, but protecting members of our campus and the quality of our content will always matter the most.