Ethics, law, & news literacy
See how the guiding principles of journalism — integrity, honesty, transparency, credibility, and clarity — come together as a whole through the policies I’ve helped develop as editor-in-chief and the personal standards I uphold as a reporter.
Photo: Academy Museum of Motion Pictures by Shiori Chen
Ethics
AI Policy
As one of the executives for our journalism program, one initiative we wanted to refine was our AI policy. Because different publications within our media program had varying standards and comfort levels with AI usage, we felt it was important to align our expectations. We had both journalism class periods host a full discussion on AI usage, recorded and transcribed the conversation, and used that transcript to help draft a formal document for the Carlmont Journalism media policies. You can find the full document to the right.
Broadly, we agreed that using AI for brainstorming or idea generation is acceptable, but it should not produce any final written product. In production, we determined that certain built-in tools, such as audio enhancers within Adobe programs, are appropriate for improving technical quality. However, altering images or videos without transparency would not be acceptable.
For the Highlander specifically, much of our discussion centered around Adobe’s image expansion tools. One issue we faced last year was slightly running short on image space when extending to the bleeds. While we acknowledged the practical appeal of expansion tools, we agreed that any AI-altered image must be clearly labeled as a photo illustration in the caption. As a publication, we aim to keep photos as authentic as possible to uphold photojournalism standards, limiting edits to necessary adjustments like exposure, white balance, and denoising when absolutely required.
In a rapidly evolving landscape where AI is increasingly integrated into learning and production, we believe it’s essential to set clear boundaries, prioritize transparency, and continually reassess how we use these tools responsibly.
Representing the whole story
One of the core principles I uphold in journalism is seeking out multiple perspectives. I make it a priority to secure a second source and, whenever possible, reach out to the other side of an issue to ensure my reporting reflects a fuller, less biased account.
When covering political topics, I intentionally look for voices that challenge the dominant narrative of my piece. Even if it makes the reporting process more complex, I find integrity in representing differing viewpoints. I reach out to local organizations or advocacy groups aligned with opposing parties or interests, and when I speak with them, I listen carefully and approach the conversation with openness.
The same standard applies to my reporting on animal welfare. In my poultry industry article, I contacted several major poultry companies’ communications departments — many of whom declined to comment — but I believed it was important to offer them the opportunity. Similarly, when reporting on the San Francisco Zoo, I attempted to obtain a response from the zoo itself. When that proved unsuccessful, I went in person to speak with visitors, many of whom expressed positive views, ensuring that the piece reflected the complexity of public opinion rather than a single perspective.
Getting those interviews was challenging. As a student journalist, I had to call more than six gun shops before one agreed to speak with me. Despite the difficulty, I felt it was essential to represent their viewpoints to ensure the article reflected the full scope of the issue.
Basic rules and standards I uphold as a writer
Interview transcripts & editing boundaries
When conducting interviews, whether in person or over the phone, I always make sure the source knows I am recording and is comfortable with it. Recording allows me to create accurate transcripts, which I rely on when pulling quotes to ensure precision. It also provides accountability, especially when reporting on sensitive topics, as I can always refer back to the original audio if any discrepancies are questioned.
I do not allow sources, regardless of their request or position, to edit my work prior to publication, even if they only want to review the section where they appear. Editorial decisions remain between me and my editor to preserve journalistic independence and integrity.
Below is a text conversation with a source (whose identity is covered due to him being a student and a minor), showing how my audio transcripts help verify information.
I use Otter.ai for all of my interview transcripts because I’ve found it to be one of the most accurate audio-to-text transcription services, which makes sourcing precise quotes much easier.
Sending published articles to sources
As a courtesy, I always send my finished articles or videos to the sources who took the time to speak with me. This helps build a two-way relationship rooted in trust and respect, showing that I value their perspective and have represented it faithfully.
Most of the time, this results in positive feedback and even future reporting opportunities. On the occasion that I receive criticism, I refer back to my transcripts to confirm the accuracy of my reporting. Below are three examples of emails I’ve received from sources after sending them the article.
Full names and anonymous sourcing
Whenever possible, I include a source’s full name. If I cannot obtain it and their perspective is not essential, I often choose to interview another source to ensure credibility. When anonymity is warranted due to social, legal, or employment concerns, I strictly follow the Scot Scoop anonymous sourcing policy: assigning a generated name and clearly including a disclaimer within the article. Below is the anonymous sourcing policy that all journalists in our program across the website, magazine, and video platforms are expected to follow.
Below, you can also find examples of the disclaimers I’ve added to the bottom of my articles, in line with our anonymous sourcing policy.
I uphold this anonymity beyond publication as well. For example, when reporting on sensitive topics such as the impact of pornography on relationships, I protected the identities of student sources. Even when readers have asked or speculated about who they were, I have never revealed their identities. Maintaining that trust with my source is non-negotiable.
Ethical practices the Highlander upholds
Image crediting
Every image and piece of artwork in the magazine — from the cover photo to the editor image on the inside front cover — is credited to its creator. On every visual, we ensure that, along with the caption, there is always a credit, even on spreads with multiple contributors, so it’s clear who created each piece. For example, on the third slide in the slideshow to the right, even a small bowl cutout layered on a square image has its own credit and caption.
For the rare instances when we use images sourced from outside the publication, we always credit the original organization or individual photographer. This practice maintains consistency and recognition for all creative work featured.
Clear fact attribution
With the Highlander, we often include statistics and infoboxes to diversify the visuals in our spreads. Unlike online publications where we can hyperlink sources, every statistic we feature is accompanied by a citation directly below. This ensure that readers know exactly where the information comes from.
Law
One of the most formative law-related stories I worked on involved reporting on the school’s response to Senior Assassin, a game that has historically caused tension between students and administration. When a choir teacher threatened to bar seniors from the Pops concert for participating, our reporting moved beyond student conflict and into legal territory.
To ensure accuracy, I collaborated with reporters Kiana Chen and Isabelle Ling, as well as our former editor-in-chief, to consult the Student Press Law Center (SPLC) and review the California Education Code, which prohibits schools from sanctioning students for participating in off-campus, non-school-sponsored activities.
The senior legal counsel with the SPLC confirmed that teachers and other school officials have no authority to restrict students from engaging in lawful private activities outside of school. The U.S. Supreme Court has clarified that administrators do not have 24/7 authority over students, and using grades or other powers to punish participation in such activities is illegal. Teachers must be directed by school officials to step back, or the district risks legal action.
The impact of our reporting was immediate. The article garnered over 1,000 views and clarified students’ rights at a moment of high confusion. The teacher ultimately revoked her statement after speaking with the principal, whom we had also interviewed for the story. This experience solidified for me how essential strong editing is, particularly on legally sensitive stories, to ensure responsible, accurate journalism.
Another experience in which I had to navigate law was when reporting on the musical disparities affecting our local elementary school system. This reporting experience showed me how law often intersects with education and equity. Proposition 28, the state law requiring funding for arts and music programs, provided a clear legal framework for the story: it established both the district’s obligation and the opportunity to ensure equitable access to music education. Understanding the law allowed me to ask informed questions — especially since I was speaking with many of the students impacted by the disparities — and emphasize the gaps between legal requirements and actual implementation at individual schools.
Through my coverage, I was able to see how laws have the ability influence local policy but still require active advocacy to be realized in practice. Reporting on this story taught me that legal knowledge in reporting is more about understanding how laws affect real people, how they interact with institutional structures, and how equity can be enforced or neglected at the local level.
Water guns and restrictions: ‘Senior Assassin’ sparks debate off school grounds
Breaking the silence on BRSSD music education disparities
News literacy
The SMELL test
In the summer of 2023, I attended the Media Literacy in an Age of Misinformation USC Pre-College Program, where I learned how to inform viewers through online media while exploring representation in cinema, misinformation ethics, advertising techniques, and screenwriting.
As part of the program, I studied critical news literacy techniques, including the S.M.E.L.L. test, which we used to analyze the credibility of NFL reporters. I also learned how to evaluate sources for bias, verify information using multiple references, and recognize the ways media language can influence audience perception.
News credibility
Almost every journalist is familiar with the Ad Fontes Media Bias Chart. I was first introduced to it during the USC summer program, but it’s appeared in nearly every journalism class or program I’ve attended. The chart helps me decide where I’m getting my news, both for inspiration on what to write and for identifying reliable sources when pulling statistics.
Promoting news literacy across a publication
Clear labeling of opinion and editorials
One of the ways that we promote news literacy in the Highlander is clearly distinguishing opinion from reporting. By clearly labeling opinion, satire, and editorial pieces and separating them from factual reporting by placing them in their own section, readers can easily distinguish whether content is based in information, analysis, or perspective and beliefs. This separation helps our audience critically evaluate what they’re reading and builds trust in the publication.
Verifying research
Another way we promote news literacy at the Highlander is by helping our editors evaluate the credibility of sources. About a week and a half after the initial brainstorming stage, writers collect their sources and paste them into a designated research box. This system allows editors to quickly review each source, ensuring it comes from a reputable or expert origin and that no sources are overlooked.
