Revised November, 1996

Authority and Responsibility

Philosophy

Oklahoma Baptist University's campus newspaper, The Bison, is a combination of campus newspaper forms. It is both a journalism laboratory and a university community newspaper. As such, it tries to meet the needs of student journalists by providing a learning experience similar to that found in the classroom, and at the same time, it tries to focus on the needs, interests, and problems of the Oklahoma Baptist University community.

The Bison is written, edited, and designed by journalism students who are putting into practice the knowledge acquired in journalism and other classrooms. The Bison provides students practical experience and an opportunity to experience the authority delegated to and the responsibility exacted from those who publish a newspaper. Through the publication's advisor, an attempt is made to tie the work in The Bison to the standards of the classroom.

The Bison is among the most important communications media for the university community. The Bison readers include students, faculty, administrators, staff members, and some off-campus readers, such as trustees, alumni, etc. The Bison also serves a number of audiences within the previously named campus groups. The Bison should strive to serve all its campus readers--not any single segment.  The Bison should fulfill the basic purposes of any newspaper:

1. to inform;
2. to educate;
3. to provide enlightened opinion through editorials and letters to the editor; and
4. to entertain.

The Bison should meet the standard of taste and decency expected by the majority of its readers. To help the staff deal with problems of this nature, The Bison staff members, the journalism department, and the board of publications worked together to prepare this booklet to serve as a guide.

The Bison should meet the normal standards of good journalism: accuracy, honesty, fairness, thoroughness, carefulness, etc. The Bison should be the best product that its staff members can produce because it stands throughout the university as an example of the capabilities of its staff members.

In many ways, The Bison can be considered similar to a "public trust". Not all members of the OBU community can issue a newspaper. Not all can work on The Bison staff. Not all can even be heard through The Bison's opinion pages (although every effort should be made to hear as many legitimate opinions as possible). So, The Bison staff member may be viewed as a representative of the OBU community and also as a representative of other journalism students. The Bison staff member should feel a special responsibility to the needs and opinions of those he represents.

Because of this "public trust" in the staff, no one individual should dominate The Bison policy. The Bison belongs not to one, but to many. The Bison should be the product of the entire Bison staff, reflecting the interests of the OBU community and the professional standards of the OBU journalism department.

Lines of Authority

The Bison is funded by the university from its operating budget. It receives no funds from subscription charges, and its budget is not based on the size of enrollment. The budget is negotiated annually on a need-justification basis.

Because the publication is housed, funded and sponsored by Oklahoma Baptist University, the university must assume the role of publisher. The university is legally responsible for the content of The Bison.

The Bison is supervised by the department of journalism. The department chairman, or his/her appointee, serves as advisor. Campus publications are regarded as valuable learning laboratories where students exercise the skills they have developed in the classroom. It is the advisor's duty to see that the publication offers a learning experience. He is both an advisor and a teacher.

Nevertheless, the publication's advisor does not "run" the publication. This is the authority delegated to the editorial staff. The staff answers to the advisor for the proper performance of its duties. If an editorial or management staff member does not fulfill his obligations properly, the advisor may call for dismissal of the student. (See statement on Procedures and Criteria for Removal of Student Editors.)

Board of Publications

The board of publications is an administrative advisory committee which studies the nature and problems of campus publications. The board formulates recommendations concerning the Bison and the Yahnseh and presents recommendations to administrative officials (publications advisor, journalism chairman, academic vice president, president).

The board hears suggestions and complaints concerning campus publications from students, faculty, administrators and other interested parties. The board considers internal problems presented by newspaper or yearbook staff members.

The board has specific powers in regard to the selection and removal of editorial staff personnel for both publications.

A Legal View of Freedom of the College Press

Court decisions have restricted state college and university administrators in their control of college newspapers. Generally speaking, from the student viewpoint, freedom of the college press has been expanded on state college campuses.

The clearly-defined role of the college newspaper is of great importance. If the college newspaper is defined and operated as a university house organ or if it is a controlled laboratory situation, the university can exercise strict control over content.

The so-called "campus press" has presented the most problems. In this situation, the university houses, supports, and finances the newspaper but generally exercises little control over it. In several decisions affecting the "campus press" concept by students and administrators alike. Thus, a number of independent newspapers have emerged on the campuses of larger universities. These newspapers are corporations independent of the university, and they are self-supporting, receiving no funds from the university. Obviously, these newspapers must be located in good market areas, so that advertising income will be sufficient to insure profit-making.

The newspaper on the private college campus has not been affected to the same degree. Almost all of the important court decisions affecting the college press have involved "state action".

Campus newspapers have the responsibility to communicate. And it seems reasonable to conclude that the quality of communication on college campuses should be higher--both in form and content--than elsewhere in society. Perhaps every institution ought to draft some standards with regard to the scope of their publications--their responsibility to communicate to and for the community--and with regard to minimum journalism standards to be met therein. So long as these standards are used as quality controls rather than arbiters of subject matter, they do not constitute a prior restraint on expression. These standards would vary from campus to campus, of course, especially as regards coverage, according to the size, interests, and resources of various schools.

In addition to the above, which might be called journalistic responsibilities, campus publications have certain other responsibilities of a legal nature. Among these are the responsibility to avoid libelous, slanderous, lewd, obscene, and pornographic words and material, and 'fighting words,' or other incitements to violence.

CODE OF ETHICS -- THE OBU BISON

(Adopted Spring 1969)

I. Integrity:

The Bison shall:

--Maintain vigorous standards of honesty and fair play in the selection and editing of its content as well as in all relations with news sources on and off the campus and with the public.

--Deal dispassionately with controversial subjects and treat disputed issues with impartiality.

--Provide a forum for the exchange of pertinent comment and criticism, especially if it is in conflict with the newspaper's editorial point of view.

--Label its own editorial views or expressions of opinion.

II. Accuracy

The Bison shall:

--Exert maximum effort to print the truth in all news situations.

--Strive for completeness and objectivity.

--Guard against carelessness, bias or distortion by either emphasis or omission.

--Correct promptly errors of fact for which the newspaper is responsible.

III. Responsibility

The Bison shall:

--Use mature and considered judgement in the public interest at all times.

--Select, edit and display news on the basis of its significance and its genuine usefulness to the campus public.

--Edit news affecting public morals with candor and good taste and avoid an imbalance of sensational, preponderantly negative, or merely trivial news. (No profanity).

--Accent when possible a reasonable amount of news which illustrates the values of compassion, self-sacrifice, and good citizenship.

--Clearly define sources which cannot be identified. Go to the official, original source if at all possible.

--Respect right of privacy.

--Instruct its staff members to conduct themselves with dignity and decorum.

--Recognize its special responsibilities to the purpose of the university (to provide an atmosphere of Christian culture).

--Recognize the importance of the support of the Oklahoma Baptists.

--Not knowingly invite "impossible" situations by unfair criticisms of those who support the university.

IV. Special criteria

A. Definition of content

NEWS -- the objective presentation of fact.

INTERPRETATIVE WRITING -- based on fact, with writer's interpretation.

COMMENT -- opinion based on fact and authority (includes editorials, columns, letters to the editor).

B. The Bison will deal with issues, not personalities.

C. The Bison will use great care and taste in dealing with sacred and religious subjects, keeping in mind the Christian objectives and denominational ties of the university.

D. The Bison shall seek to be positive. Corrective and constructive criticism should be balanced with positive comment.

E. Comment should be educated opinion.

Editorial writers and columnists will base comment upon fact, research and intelligent analysis. Since the tone of comment is important, The Bison will avoid inflammatory (hostile, blindly passionate opinion) and profane materials.

Letters to the editor will meet the same criteria. Authorship should be verified, and content of the letters should be checked so that it meets the criteria for accuracy and responsibility.

The editor will be responsible for verifying all comment.

GENERAL PUBLICATION INFORMATION

Frequency of publication: Wednesdays, 22 issues per year (September - May); 8 or 12 pages per issue.

Method and place of printing: Offset, Shawnee News-Star

Format and size: Tabloid, 4 columns

Advertising rates: Rates will be based upon current market rate; changes will be approved by the Publications Board. No discounts other than those approved by the Publications Board will be allowed.

Circulation: The number of papers distributed weekly will be between 1,200 and 2,000, as determined by the advisor based on current demand. Copies will be distributed free on campus and mailed to paid subscribers and advertisers.

Financing: Financing will be based on general operating budget funds as allocated each year by the university administration, and advertising revenues.

Paid staff personnel: Paid staff positions include but are not limited to; editor, news editor, copy editor, photo and page editors, circulation manager, office assistant (work-study), darkroom manager, advertising manager and sales assistants.

Editorial positions, darkroom manager and circulation manager, receive scholarship stipends as stipulated in criteria for selection of such editors.

Advertising personnel will receive commission on sales.

Staff meetings: All Bison staff members are required to attend staff meeting(s) each week, as scheduled by the advisor. Meeting are used for discussion, planning, polishing technique and instruction. Additional staff meetings may be called if needed.

Refresher seminars: As a new staff prepares to assume its duties each semester, old and new staff members will be required to participate in a seminar on basic philosophy of The Bison, the Code of Ethics, laws of libel, lines of authority and responsibility, etc.

Advertising policy: The Bison has the right to refuse any advertisements which are inconsistent with the purpose and philosophy of the university. The advertising manager has the right to insist upon prepayment for any advertising; advertisements for political candidates or causes must be paid in advance. In particular:

A. No advertisements may be accepted for alcoholic beverages, nor any advertisements for restaurants which advertise alcohol in their display ads.

B. No advertisements may be accepted for theater productions or films carrying NC-17 or X ratings; care should be taken with films to make sure that the film content or advertisement photographs are not offensive to the OBU community.

C. The Bison will not carry advertisement for firearms, tobacco or contraceptives.

D. The Bison will not carry a classified advertising action. The minimum ad sold will be the 1 column by 2 inch display ad.

CRITERIA FOR SELECTION FOR BISON EDITORIAL POSITIONS

Revised April, 1984

I. CRITERIA FOR ALL APPLICANTS FOR BISON POSITIONS

A. Be in good scholastic standing. (2.5 for editors, 2.0 for associates and assistants.)

B. Be a regularly enrolled student at time of application.

C. Be either a campus resident or a Shawnee resident. (No distance commuters.)

II. CRITERIA FOR BISON EDITORIAL AND MANAGEMENT POSITIONS

A. Bison editor or manager candidate should:

1. Have at least one year's work on The Bison or equivalent training on a similar publication. Journalism classwork is recommended but not mandatory.

2. Be of at least junior standing during tenure. (Sophomores may apply.)

3. Not have other major responsibilities such as half-time employment. Part-time work in addition to editorial responsibilities must be approved by publication advisor.

B. Bison copy, photo and page editors should:

1. Have at least one semester's work on The Bison or equivalent work on a similar publication. Journalism classwork is recommended but not mandatory.

2. Be of at least sophomore standing during tenure. (Second semester freshmen who have made satisfactory progress in journalism courses may be considered if there is an insufficient number of qualified candidates.)

III. CRITERIA FOR ADVERTISING REPRESENTATIVE

A. Candidate should:

1. Have sales experience. (Copy and layout experience desirable.)

2. Have transportation.

3. Not have other major responsibilities such as half-time employment. Part-time work in addition to advertising responsibilities much be approved by publications advisor.

IV. CRITERIA WAVER:

Criteria for any position can be waived with publications board approval, if no qualified candidates are available.

STATEMENT ON PROCEDURES & CRITERIA FOR REMOVAL OF BISON STUDENT EDITORS

Adopted May, 1968

I. The board of publications recognizes the following procedures and criteria for removal of a student editor:

A. Dereliction of duty such as failure to meet deadlines, not devoting sufficient time and energy to meet editorial responsibilities.

B. Technical incompetence serious enough to be of an embarrassment to the university, and the editor's failure to demonstrate improvement.

C. Violations of taste according to standards of the university community as perceived by the members of the board of publications.

D. Malice -- deliberate libelous statements.

E. Falsehood -- deliberate distortion or misstatement of fact.

F. Academic probation.

II. All procedures for dismissal of student editors and managers and all authority for acting on complaints concerning student publications shall be vested in the advisor acting in counsel with the board of publications. All complaints on policy shall be submitted in writing to both the advisor and the board chairman on the same day; the advisor shall receive the written complaint at least 24 hours prior to any action by the board. The publications board may overrule the advisor's decision by an absolute majority vote (4 of 7 members). Editors and managers dismissed by the advisor with consent of the board of publications have the right to appeal to the university president. It is the concern of the board that procedures for dismissal of student editors and managers be thoroughly regularized and attempts tinfluence a student advisor be taken through clearly established channels and not be arbitrary action.