Diversity of sources

Ethics guidelines
Coverage and sources should reflect the school population and its various communities, including a wide range of sources who represent students and staff.

Staff manual process
Students should take care not only to represent diversity through their sources but also in the content they pursue. Additionally, students should avoid interviewing or photographing friends or relatives unless that individual is the best or only source.

Suggestions
• Students should keep a checklist in the newsroom to monitor the number of times a source has appeared in student media. The staff may determine, for example, that after three times, an individual should not be a source unless he/she is essential to the story.
• For each story, student journalists should seek a variety of primary and secondary sources, finding a mix that reflects society in general and provides for complete and thorough reporting.
• Coverage should give voice to those who might otherwise remain voiceless while creating context and aiding in comprehension.
• Student media should include sources who represent diverse racial, ethnic, economic, occupational, academic, geographical, political, gender and age populations.
• Students should interview, film and photograph an abundance of sources to select only the best quotes, audio, video and photos for each story.

Resources
Find Diverse Sources, The Poynter Institute
Integrate diversity into your reporting routine, Science Literacy Project
Ethical Testing Tips, Media Helping Media
Lesson: The Right Source, Journalism Education Association
Lesson: Discovering Your Diversity, Journalism Education Association

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