!!!!! Guidance from central on student journalism and the cell phone policy

[Katina Paron]

Thanks to Brian Sweeney for sharing this this info from central:

I wanted you to know that last week we posted some guidance on the infohub for school staff on how to consider the cell phone policy for student journalists.

https://infohub.nyced.org/in-our-schools/policies/cell-phone-and-electronic-device-policy

 

Guidance for Student Journalism

Students participating in either an extracurricular activity (journalism club, student newspaper, etc) or a journalism class may qualify for an exception to the school’s Cell Phone and Electronic Device Policy under the “specific educational purpose” exception.  Schools my want to consider the following factors when considering an exception for student journalists: 

• Student journalist activities are likely to occur both during the school day and outside of school hours; if this is true for student journalism activities in your school, an exception may be helpful. 

• Student journalists often use cell phones and similar devices as part of their journalism work due to the multi-functional use of the device (can record and transcribe interviews, can be used for research, can take photo and video, etc). If the school does not supply a device or device(s) that can cover all of those functions, an exception may be helpful. 

• Given the flexible nature of student journalism, it may be hard to narrow down specific location or time parameters for student journalists for exception purposes.  For this reason, schools may want to consider instituting a system of identification for student journalists (badges, pins, etc) that they can use when participating in journalism activities, to help staff and others easily recognize that they are subject in that moment to an exception to the cell phone policy. 

If you are going to pursue an exception policy for student journalists, please consider reviewing this policy with any staff that act in an advisory capacity to student journalists at the beginning of the school year, and with the students themselves. The policy should consider the clear parameters for when students can use their exception (clear times and or locations, or when wearing their identification, if you choose to do that) as well guidance on what the devices can be used for in those instances.