Q: Should advertising be part of the curriculum? Should students be required to sell ads whether they are in a journalism class or just on the staff?

A: The role of advertising for any publication should definitely be a part of the curriculum, and particularly for those publications that rely on all or part of the revenue for publishing. The business side is an essential part of the reality of the newspaper profession. Everything from establishing a rate sheet, to how to sell ads, to how to design ads for local merchants can be included. Students can learn to write copy for ads, use specific graphics, study effective and non-effective display ads, in addition to learning phone techniques for selling ads, personal contacts for selling ads, how to manage an ad file and how to make advertisers happy can be included.

- Sunny Reed
ereed@attglobal.net

Q. How does one verify the facts of an article? What is the adviser's role in fact verification?

A. A student reporter should talk to or check at least two and sometimes three sources to verify facts. If the reporter feels uncomfortable, he or she should talk to an editor and/or the adviser. The sources must be reliable, and the reporter must be able to list who the sources are for an editor or the adviser. Student reporters do not need confidential sources, except in the most sensitive stories, and in that case, the reporter must work closely with the editors and adviser. The adviser should develop a good coaching style with the student during the reporting and writing process to make sure that the student reporter has verified all facts. The adviser must instill a sense of responsibility in student reporters to write the truth. A large staff can establish “fact checkers,” students who research questionable facts in all stories. This becomes a primary function of these students.

- Sunny Reed
ereed@attglobal.net