About

MISSION STATEMENT AND PURPOSE:

Sion Student Media is the official student website of Notre Dame de Sion High School at 10631 Wornall Road, Kansas City, Missouri 64114 hosting content from three student publications as well as acting as a news and content source for its community. Staff and contributors to Sion Student Media intend to educate, entertain and present issues using the highest quality scholastic journalism. With the right of freedom of expression comes an obligation to the highest ideals of the journalistic profession. Our hope is to progress critical thought and decision-making on an individual student level.

ANONYMITY POLICY

All Staff should refrain from using anonymous sources when possible. If reporting a story where the source could be negatively impacted from their name being printed, leave the source’s name anonymous.

WEBSITE TAKE-DOWN REQUESTS:

Student journalists strive to preserve the integrity of a published record, including published corrections or clarifications. We do so in the interest of the public’s right to know now — and in the future. Take-down requests will be weighed on a case-by-case basis, and some situations may require legal guidance. But in general, Le Journal Live will not remove any content posted on the student website unless it is damaging, libelous or inaccurate.

The Editorial Board and school leadership may use the following models to help in determining the takedown of a piece.

Leave Everything As Is If:

The request is designed to retain an image or avoid embarrassment.
There is no discernible evidence of factual or legal issues.
There is value in not changing information for historical reasons.
What is published is true, as best as the staff could determine.
The credibility of the student media is paramount.
The mission is to be an accurate record of events and issues.

Publish Corrections, Retractions or Updates If:

The information is proven factually false or otherwise legally deficient as of the time it was published.
There is a need for transparency concerning source inaccuracy.
There is a need to provide context and perspective for published information.
The staff needs to clarify or update information.
The staff feels the situation is a gray area best solved by compromise.
The staff can write a follow-up story.

Take Down Information, If:

There is a one-time reason, such as fabrications or protection of sources.
Staff determines, as best it can, that harm to the people identified outweighs all other factors.

*These put-up and take-down policies are adapted from the Grand Center Arts Academy policy and guidelines from John Bowen for the Journalism Education Association’s Scholastic Press Rights Committee.

STAFF MEMBER POLICY:

As a member of the Le Journal staff, the reporter is expected to uphold values of integrity and ethics in all circumstances. She should consistently finish quality assignments on time. She is expected to act with professionalism and work to her highest potential. She should not hesitate to ask questions and should receive constructive criticism with an open mind. A staff member of Le Journal works with her staff, for her staff. She is expected to be the voice of Sion by reporting news that is relevant and interesting to the student body.

EDITORIAL POLICY:

Sion Student Media aspires to be an open forum for student expression. A forum, by definition, is “a marketplace of ideas,” and we welcome the exchange of comment and criticism from students and others interested in the Sion community. However, prohibited expression is that which is obscene, libelous or slanderous. Profanity will not be published. Also prohibited shall be material that would incite, invade one’s privacy or disrupt the orderly operation of the school. Le Journal welcomes Letters to the Editors. Letters must be no more than 300 words and we reserve the right to edit minor grammatical errors without altering the letter’s message. Libelous, slanderous, and obscene letters will not be published. Profanity will be removed. All letters must be signed by the writer.

Student journalists strive to preserve the integrity of a published record, including published corrections or clarifications. We do so in the interest of the public’s right to know now — and in the future. Take-down requests will be weighed on a case-by-case basis, and some situations may require legal guidance. But in general, staff will not remove any content posted on the student website unless it is damaging, libelous or inaccurate.

This policy is borrowed from the Eleight Handbook, the Blue Valley School District and Rob Melton’s News Writer’s Handbook.