Considerations of the Editorial Board include:
- Discussion of the general shape and content of news and feature stories, photography and graphics for future issues.
- Discussion of editorials, editorial cartoons and columns.
- Problems and grievances regarding coverage, staff or policy, or issues concerning the process of publication.
- Ethics, press law and conflict of interest issues.
General
The Editorial Board is the leadership of The Channels. Led by the editor in chief, the Editorial Board oversees all operations of the paper and determines the paper’s vision and personality. While the editor in chief is ultimately responsible for content of the paper and all pre-publication decisions, the Editorial Board—through meetings and ongoing consultation—plays a vital role in formulating those decisions.
Meetings and Membership
The Editorial Board is the leadership of The Channels. Led by the editor in chief, the Editorial Board oversees all operations of the paper and determines the paper’s vision and personality. While the editor in chief is ultimately responsible for content of the paper and all pre-publication decisions, the Editorial Board—through meetings and ongoing consultation—plays a vital role in formulating those decisions.
Meetings and Membership
- The Editorial Board consists of the editor in chief, managing editor, the opinion page editor, photo editor, sports editor, arts and entertainment editor and, in years of plentiful staff, all other section editors.
- The Editorial Board meets at least once a week. A regular meeting time will be designated at the beginning of each semester. Attendance at meetings is mandatory, and it is the responsibility of individual board members to inform the editor in chief of an anticipated absence. All board members are expected to actively participate.
- The Editorial Board may invite staff members to meetings to discuss particular requirements or problems of news coverage. The board may also invite outside guests to discuss campus issues or concerns.
- Two-thirds of membership is a quorum. Each board member has one vote. The editor in chief has a vote, as well as veto power over all Ed Board decisions.
- The adviser attends Editorial Board meetings to provide guidance on all matters of board business; to facilitate difficult discussions; and to provide background on campus issues and journalistic standards. The adviser does not have a vote.
Responsibilities
- Ed Board members are the most talented, knowledgeable and experienced members of The Channels staff. As such, they are charged with learning the Canons of Community College Journalism, all college policies regarding the role and responsibilities of the student press, and all Ed Code and applicable state and federal laws concerning libel, obscenity and invasion of privacy.
- The Editorial Board will determine the printability of material that is questionable from the standpoints of obscenity, taste, conflict of interest and libel. Questions on these issues should be brought to the adviser, who will apprise editors of applicable state laws and of any legal threat to themselves. Editors may also be counseled to seek legal advice through the California Newspaper Publishers Association or the Student Press Law Center. Past court cases have shown that editors are held responsible for their decisions.
- The Editorial Board will decide the content of editorials and set guidelines for editorial cartoons. This is a challenge and responsibility of the utmost importance—in no more cogent format can Ed Board members express reasoned, informed student points of view to the campus community. The board enjoys wide freedom of choice of editorial topics. This Freedom imposes serious responsibility. That responsibility is met when the board investigates facts thoroughly, analyzes situations carefully, forms honest opinions, and expresses itself clearly.
- The Editorial Board will decide what sensitive advertising the paper will publish. The board should consult The Channels advertising policy in making its decision.
- The Editorial Board will decide when corrections or clarifications should be published. Decisions should be guided by the journalistic principle that inaccuracies and misstatements of fact should not be part of a newspaper, whether these appear in news stories, columns, editorials or cartoons.
- According to college policy, the Editorial Board is the first—and it is to hoped last—step in grievances leveled at The Channels from outside sources. Formal complaints against the paper will be aired at the next scheduled board meeting. If the editor in chief deems it necessary, the board may call a special meeting to consider complaints.
Leadership Challenges
- Ed Board members are expected to immerse themselves in campus life and issues. Such involvement and knowledge is essential to initiate and supervise news coverage and editorial comment.
- One of the most powerful ways Ed Board members lead their staff is through example. Recruits look to editors at all times to see how things are done, in human relations as well as journalistic skills. You must be a 24-hour-a-day role model.
- The editor model traditionally encouraged at The Channels is “leadership” rather than “management.” Editors have the chance to lead people by encouraging their strengths and successes rather than by focusing on weakness and failure.
- Editors have the chance to learn and practice conflict resolution, as they will be expected to help other staff members work their personal and professional differences.
Selection of Editorial Board
- The faculty adviser is responsible for selection of the editor in chief. In cases where two or more candidates are interested, the adviser may at his or her discretion set up an advisory panel to interview candidates. The panel should include a college dean, the assistant adviser, a journalism professional and a former Channels editor in chief. The faculty adviser will chair the panel.
- Other members of the Editorial Board will be selected by the editor in chief, in consultation with the faculty adviser and assistant adviser.