POLICIES
EDITORIAL POLICY
The VIRIDIAN is a student-produced online publication, published with the intent to inform, entertain and give voice to the Walnut Grove High School community, as well as to educate student journalists. The website is a public forum for student expression under the guidance of a faculty adviser. Student journalists are provided with opportunities to investigate, inform, interpret, and evaluate all traditionally accepted functions of the American press.
Published opinions do not necessarily reflect the views of anyone other than the writers.
The VIRIDIAN staff is committed to adhere to the mission statement set forth by WGHS. The goals of the staff are to provide fair, accurate news and commentaries, as well as to serve the interests of the school and Walton County community.
Advertising must conform to the guidelines set forth for editorials. Publication of advertisements does not indicate an endorsement by WGHS or by the VIRIDIAN staff. Students pictured in advertisements are not given monetary compensation. All advertising rates are available upon request from any VIRIDIAN staff member.
The VIRIDIAN is a member of the National Scholastic Press Association and the Georgia Scholastic Press Association.
Published opinions do not necessarily reflect the views of anyone other than the writers.
The VIRIDIAN staff is committed to adhere to the mission statement set forth by WGHS. The goals of the staff are to provide fair, accurate news and commentaries, as well as to serve the interests of the school and Walton County community.
Advertising must conform to the guidelines set forth for editorials. Publication of advertisements does not indicate an endorsement by WGHS or by the VIRIDIAN staff. Students pictured in advertisements are not given monetary compensation. All advertising rates are available upon request from any VIRIDIAN staff member.
The VIRIDIAN is a member of the National Scholastic Press Association and the Georgia Scholastic Press Association.
PRIOR REVIEW POLICY
The VIRIDIAN seeks to maintain courteous professional relationships with sources and community members. Staffers are expected to treat sources with respect. If a source asks to see an article before publication, the writer will meet with the Editor-in-Chief, Section Editor and Lead Copy Editor to assess the validity of their request. Editors will then vet the request with Mr. Ulrey. The VIRIDIAN does not allow sources to censor articles or retract on-record statements unless an issue of accuracy is to be addressed. At no time should an VIRIDIAN reporter feel pressured or intimidated by a source in regard to on-record statements. If this occurs, immediately contact Mr. Ulrey. In instances in which VIRIDIAN staff protocols are not properly followed, Mr. Ulrey, the staff member and Section Editor, if applicable, will host a coaching session with a staffer not in compliance.
SOURCE ATTRIBUTION POLICY
“Journalists should never take information off the record without the approval of a supervisor and an understanding of the news outlet’s policy. Some organizations do not allow anonymous sources except in the most vital news stories. Journalists also should make sure they and their source are talking about the same agreement. Does off-the-record mean the information can never be used, can be used if another source confirms the information on the record or public records substantiate, or simply the information can be used as long as the source’s name is not used (a city official, an employee of the football team, etc.) And publishing information without verification from multiple sources, even if they are all off the record, is a dangerous practice.”
-SPJ Ethics Committee papers: Anonymous sourcing.
On the occasion a source requests that their identity be kept confidential in published material, we must be reluctant to grant their wish. When we use anonymous sources we are asking for another level of reader trust. We must be certain that the benefit to readers is worth the cost in credibility.
As such, staffers are not to use a quote or information from a source who requests anonymity, unless it is deemed vital for the story by the Editor-in-Chief and Adviser. Otherwise, the information is deemed unreliable. As a high school publication, in cases where bullying, harassment or safety concerns pose a threat to a source, Mr. Ulrey must be alerted as a mandatory reporter.
RETRACTION POLICY
The VIRIDIAN strives to provide accurate, fair and unbiased news for the WGHS community. All published information should be double-checked for accuracy before publication, which includes but is not limited to verifying spellings of names, verifications of dates, locations and claims made by sources. It is vitally important for VIRIDIAN personnel to make every effort to ensure accuracy, fairness and balance. However, if incorrect information is published or an error is made, the error will be acknowledged and corrected. On the website, minor errors (grammatical/stylistic) will be edited and corrected in real time. Significant online errors will be disclosed and amended in the online corrections and omissions page.
Larger errors (misquotes, inaccurate statements, false light) will be dealt with on a case-by-case basis and the VIRIDIAN will publicly address the situation. When our reporting is factually correct but our language is misleading or unclear, the language will be rewritten and it will be logged in the corrections and omissions section. A clarification will be used to note that we initially failed to provide full context or to address the error in context.
In instances in which VIRIDIAN staff protocols are not properly followed, Mr. Ulrey, the appropriate staff member and Section Editor, if applicable, will host a coaching session with a staffer not in compliance.
Larger errors (misquotes, inaccurate statements, false light) will be dealt with on a case-by-case basis and the VIRIDIAN will publicly address the situation. When our reporting is factually correct but our language is misleading or unclear, the language will be rewritten and it will be logged in the corrections and omissions section. A clarification will be used to note that we initially failed to provide full context or to address the error in context.
In instances in which VIRIDIAN staff protocols are not properly followed, Mr. Ulrey, the appropriate staff member and Section Editor, if applicable, will host a coaching session with a staffer not in compliance.
REPRESENTATION POLICY
The VIRIDIAN strives to accurately represent and depict the members of the Walnut Grove High School community through our content. Staffers must be particularly mindful when writing pieces that deal with sensitive issues such as race, gender and sexuality. As with any other piece, all sides of the story should be told and presented in a balanced manner. Staffers must be aware of the gender and racial/ethnic identity of their sources and, with the guidance of the Section Editor and Editor-in-Chief, determine if mentioning the cultural identity of their source in the title is necessary to ensure stronger credibility.
SOCIAL MEDIA POLICY
The VIRIDIAN's official Instagram and Facebook accounts strive to offer our readers a forum for productive, civil discussion and debate. Abusive, derogatory or otherwise inflammatory language is unacceptable and such comments will be moderated.
SCHOOL DEATH POLICY
Any active member of the Walnut Grove High School community who dies will be recognized in the following issue of the magazine in 300-word obituary with a social media post to complement; the obituary will be published online. The obituary will either be written by someone close to the deceased or the staff as a whole as in the case of an “Our Take”. It should include pertinent information, including, but not limited to a brief biography with accomplishments, reference to surviving family members and funeral arrangements. Along with the obituary, there will be a school photo of the deceased or a photo from the VIRIDIAN's archives. Members of the VIRIDIAN staff will treat all deaths in a tasteful, respectful way. Cause of death should not be listed. An invitation to the WGHS community to share memories of the deceased via a blog will be offered via social media and/or email.