Survey data on mass communication students' perceptions of plagiarism and fabrication indicate an ethics gap in which students are more concerned about ethical breaches in journalism than in academics. Further analyses found that the ethics gap increases among students near graduation who had higher levels of concern and suggested harsher…

Presents four brief articles on covering crime. Notes that reporting on crimes requires special skills for student reporters, editors, and photographers. Explains how to gain access to scenes, to develop journalistic ethics, and how to cover crime and its victims. Discusses the relation of race and ethnic issues to crime, and how visual…

Notes that high school students have an incredible number of issues they must face daily. Contends that it is vital for a high school newspaper to find a balance between coverage of world events and local occurrences so that everything is relevant to high-school readers. Provides examples of eight high school newspapers' coverage of the 2003 war…

Notes that student journalists face a challenge in gaining the respect needed from sources to glean a high quality of information. Contends that in addition to researching the specifics of articles before interviews, part of the preparation needs to be classroom instruction on source cultivation and interpersonal skills. Provides 10 commonsense…

Outlines the attempts of two fictional journalism students to learn the correct way to interview. Emphasizes the importance of doing homework and researching multiple angles. Explains that thinking of questions and taking careful notes are important steps in the process. (PM)

Notes that even high school students enjoy an occasional reading from a children's book. Explains that many different children's books can be incorporated as the basis for activities in the journalism classroom. Presents annotations of seven specific books that can be used in a journalism class. (PM)

Explains that Adobe InDesign 2.0 moves desktop to new possibilities because it combines the best of modern graphics techniques. Provides explanations of the following aspects of InDesign: drop shadow; align objects; define styles; type on a path; grids; accessible patterns; gradients; create outlines; indexing; and shows missing point. (PM)

Explains that the maestro concept is an approach to integrating writing, editing, and visual communication. Notes that the goal of the maestro concept is to find agreement on the best way to package a story, photos, art, and graphics for the reader. Concludes that the maestro team helps beginning journalism students become better verbal and visual…

Presents 23 photographs and discusses techniques used in taking each photo. Considers the aperture, depth of field, shutter speed, film type, exposures, equivalent exposure, and lenses. Presents an exercise worksheet for students to fill out incorporating these techniques. (SG)

Considers that because of an assurance of religious liberty, Americans tend to restrict religious convictions within their private domains even though most consider themselves to be religious or spiritual. Discusses how newspapers and broadcasters do not take religion stories seriously and as a result, student journalists seldom see or read…

Argues that nowhere is it more important to address religious diversity than in the public schools--the principal institution charged with enabling Americans to live with their deepest differences. Discusses the First Amendment and how the American press is handling religion. Addresses religious liberty in schools and religious liberty rights of…

Presents four short articles addressing diversity including a 3-step "Time Out" learning activity. Considers how true diversity in coverage means that all types of students are included in all types of stories in school publications. Notes that having a diverse publications staff is a way to ensure more accurate coverage of all groups of students.…

Presents 24 recipes that can be prepared quickly. Includes sample restaurant reviews from student newspapers; advice on photographing food for student publications; a classroom exercise on food terminology; guidelines for food critics; and comments from professional journalists on writing restaurant reviews and critiquing food. (RS)

Presents findings of a comprehensive 1999 survey of advisers and administrators, which showed that the high-school student press is not free, is controlled mostly by advisers, but also by principals, and views editing of the newspaper by its faculty adviser as the norm. Notes that only 27% of the principals and advisers say their papers are not…

Describes a high-school journalism adviser's experiences in shifting production to a broadsheet format. Addresses: rethinking content, redesigning support materials, developing a public relations strategy to help readers make the transition, and anticipating complications. (RS)