Spring Break
Editorial: The right to write
The Daily Barometer
Issue date: 4/5/07 Section: Forum
Each year at OSU, thousands of students enter campus hoping - and expecting - to be treated as adults. The same goes for every reporter at The Daily Barometer; though we are a student newspaper we expect to be treated as any other professional publication. But did you know that right now, the laws in our state do not reflect that?
Over spring break, while other students were lounging in the sun, a few members of the Barometer staff traveled to Salem to testify on behalf of House Bill 3279, a piece of legislation that would give high school and college journalists the freedom of the press. In simple terms, the bill would give student journalists the right to print criticism of their respective school or university without fear of censorship.
The Barometer is independent of OSU, meaning we are not funded by the university. In essence, we operate under our own power. We sell advertising and pay our reporters well under what other student employees earn. Because we have nothing to lose, we are free to print criticism.
It is the job of the news media to ask questions and challenge the behavior of those in powerful positions. We operate as a watch-dog of sorts for our governing body and under the First Amendment, the freedom of the press is protected.
The scope of a university or high school newspaper is to cover the events on that particular campus, making the student government and the school administration the most relevant governing body.
It is an important principle of journalism that the staff must maintain independence from the people and organizations covered.
House Bill 3279 would protect student journalists in their efforts to expose the truth and provide information for the greater good.
Journalists pride themselves on monitoring individuals in power. This is only possible if the publication itself does not face scrutiny prior to printing or face threat to its financial stability.
College and high school newspapers are training grounds, but they are also a credible source of news and criticism if they are given the proper independence. This legislation will do that.
The Daily Barometer whole-heartedly recommends that the Legislature in the state of Oregon work to pass this bill. It will give students the chance the work on par with journalists who already have these protections. We will have the chance to compete fairly.
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Editorials serve as a means for Barometer editors to offer commentary and opinions on issues both global and local, grand in scale and diminutive. The views expressed here are a reflection of the editorial board's majority.
Over spring break, while other students were lounging in the sun, a few members of the Barometer staff traveled to Salem to testify on behalf of House Bill 3279, a piece of legislation that would give high school and college journalists the freedom of the press. In simple terms, the bill would give student journalists the right to print criticism of their respective school or university without fear of censorship.
The Barometer is independent of OSU, meaning we are not funded by the university. In essence, we operate under our own power. We sell advertising and pay our reporters well under what other student employees earn. Because we have nothing to lose, we are free to print criticism.
It is the job of the news media to ask questions and challenge the behavior of those in powerful positions. We operate as a watch-dog of sorts for our governing body and under the First Amendment, the freedom of the press is protected.
The scope of a university or high school newspaper is to cover the events on that particular campus, making the student government and the school administration the most relevant governing body.
It is an important principle of journalism that the staff must maintain independence from the people and organizations covered.
House Bill 3279 would protect student journalists in their efforts to expose the truth and provide information for the greater good.
Journalists pride themselves on monitoring individuals in power. This is only possible if the publication itself does not face scrutiny prior to printing or face threat to its financial stability.
College and high school newspapers are training grounds, but they are also a credible source of news and criticism if they are given the proper independence. This legislation will do that.
The Daily Barometer whole-heartedly recommends that the Legislature in the state of Oregon work to pass this bill. It will give students the chance the work on par with journalists who already have these protections. We will have the chance to compete fairly.
Editorials serve as a means for Barometer editors to offer commentary and opinions on issues both global and local, grand in scale and diminutive. The views expressed here are a reflection of the editorial board's majority.
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