Sonoma State Star

Editorial Policy

Editorial Board
The Editorial Board consists of all section editors (news, opinion, A&E, features, sports), the
advertising manager, the production manager and the faculty advisor. Each member of the Board has one vote, except for the faculty advisor, who has none. Attendance at weekly meetings of the Editorial Board is mandatory.

The purpose of the Editorial Board is as follows:

1.) to set STAR policy regarding the editorial content of the newspaper. This may include decisions regarding the use of certain language; the length of letters to the editor and the degree to which they are edited; and the protocol involved in accepting guest editorials.

2.) to set policy regarding advertising, including decisions pertaining to types of ads accepted.

3.) to set policy regarding all matters related to the financial well-being of the STAR.

The Editorial Board also decides on the topic of the weekly unsigned editorial and writes it as a group. If the editor decides to write the editorial alone, then he signs it. On occasion, the editor may allow another staff member to write the editorial who then signs his or her name to it.
Section editors present their lists of weekly story assignments to the editor-in-chief at the Editorial Board meeting. Other story ideas may be pitched at this time. The overall planning of the current issue takes place and page one stories are discussed.
Problems of any sort - personality clashes, angry readers, technical difficulties, unmet deadlines, etc. are sorted out and plans to resolve problems are created.

Our Editorial Policy is as Follows:
The content of news and editorial material in the Sonoma State STAR (hereinafter called "The STAR") should attain the standards of journalistic excellence prescribed in the Canons of Journalism which is reproduced in the Sonoma State STAR Desk Book.

The STAR shall not print material which violates the laws of libel and copyright. When questions of good taste arise, it shall be resolved in consultation with the reporter, copy editor, editor-in-chief and the advisor.

The STAR's purpose is twofold. The first is to serve as a general readership news journal serving the university and the surrounding community. The second is to provide a medium through which journalism skills are developed in a learning experience (to inform, provide leadership, promote student and community involvement in pertinent issues, and entertain students while maintaining rapport and an open atmosphere of understanding with students, administrators, faculty and staff.

The STAR retains under decisions of the U.S. Supreme Court and other federal courts the same rights, privileges and responsibilities as the professional press. The STAR will exercise all rights of free expression except that which is libelous or slanderous according to current legal standards, as interpreted by the Communication Studies Department in consultation with the appropriate legal authorities, or goes beyond social norms of good taste and decency.

Views expressed in the STAR are those of student editors, writers and contributors. They do not necessarily reflect in any way the opinions or views of the administration of the university or any other group included in the university community, nor do they necessarily reflect the views of the STAR advertisers.

All published materials will be as factual, accurate, objective and thoroughly researched and newsworthy as possible, and principally of interest to students.
Opinions will be clearly labeled as to source. Editorials will be based on fact and represent the views of the editor and/or the Editorial Board, not necessarily those of the university or the Associated Students.

Letters to the Editor will be accepted and published at the discretion of the editor-in-chief, space permitting, unless deemed libelous or slanderous. Letters will be limited to 250 words and in no way represent the editorial stance of the STAR. The letters are published as the Star's contribution to the encouragement of an open forum on campus as well as to the freedom of speech engendered by the Constitution of the United States.

Staff members are responsible to the editor-in-chief and the Editorial Board for the accuracy and fairness of their articles.

An error of fact in any issue will require a labeled statement of correction in the following issue as mandated by Title V of the California Code.

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The Editorial Board, consisting of the editor-in-chief, managing editor, news editor, sports editor, opinion ediotr, features editor, the arts editor and the faculty advisor shall make editorial decisions in accordance with the Statement of Policy, with the editor-in-chief having final responsibility in conjuction with the faculty advisor.

The editor-in-chief will consult as necessary with the advisor who will critique each issue of the newspaper (editorial, photos, advertisements, etc.) and will be responsible to the COMS Department regarding the carrying out of stated policy and the journalistic quality of the newspaper.

The STAR reserves the right to be the final judge on the worthiness and/or suitability of requests for coverage, press releases and other information submitted for publication. In the interest of fairness and balanced coverage, all such requests will receive due consideration.
Coverage of the Associated Students, the Residence Hall Association, clubs and organizations, sports, campus events and activities, faculty, staff and administration shall be the major priorities of the STAR.

The STAR retains the right to edit all contributed material for publication. Editing shall be done for accuracy, style, length, spelling, grammar, libel, copyright and adherence to the principles of STAR policy.

The STAR will never attack a person or an institution with malicious intent. However, if policies or regulations violate legal or moral ethics, human rights or freedoms, or have no logical basis or practical value, they may be examined in editorials and articles. Groups, clubs and other organizations may also be investigated when deemed necessary by the STAR editorial board.

The STAR will not print statements or ideas made by instructors, students and others during class sessions without permission of the speaker. Such statements shall otherwise be considered off the record.

The Editorial Board respects and upholds the right of a reporter to deny the release of his/her sources.

Articles will not be reviewed by non-staff members before publication. This constitutes a form of censorship (prior restraint).

The STAR reserves the right to resist any form of censorship from the university or any group or institution, save that of material which is proven to be libelous or slanderous.

The editor-in-chief has the primary responsibility for writing editorials. He/she may assign other staff to write editorials. Staff members may also request the assignment of an editorial and are free to submit for consideration editorials on topics of their choice.

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