Official Policy Statement For Student Media

  1. Free and responsible student media are valuable and unique means to bring about the reporting, interpretation and discussion of events interesting and proper to a collegiate body. The student media are, as well, a springboard for learning the professional realities of mass media and their concomitant responsibilities and obligations.
  2. Because all official student media of the University of St. Thomas are financed either directly or indirectly by the University or from funds administered by the University for publishing costs, overhead and salaries, the University is the legal and responsible agent for their content. The University delegates editorial freedom and responsibility to student editors and producers, giving them latitude to formulate editorial policies, to report the news they deem important to the collegiate community and to operate without previous restraint.
  3. Such editorial freedom is to be governed by the canons of responsible journalism: avoidance of libel, obscenity, indecency, undocumented allegations or non-attributed sources, personal attack, harassment, innuendo or blasphemy. In addition, student media should reflect adequately and properly the Catholic nature of the University, together with accepted Church teaching, and also reflect the University objectives as stated in the University catalog.
  4. To be accepted, advertising must meet the standards of Student Media and the University of St. Thomas with regard to Catholic teaching, truth and good taste. The Student Media Advertising Director has sole discretion to accept or refuse any advertising on any medium within The Crest. Student Media standards comprise the following:
    A. Advertising should be truthful and not deceptive, exaggerated or misleading. 
    B. Advertising should respect the human dignity of our audience.
    C. Advertising should be socially responsible and not promote wasteful consumption or lifestyles that oppose authentic human development. 
  1. Within this context, the following are in effect: 
    A. The student media are free of censorship and prior approval of written copy, photographs, video and audio. The editors and producers are free to develop their own policies regarding the coverage of news, editorial positions, literary forms and advertising. 
    B. The media advisers shall function as professional supervisors to aid students. The advisers shall consult with the editors and producers if questions relating to Paragraphs 3 and 4 above should arise. 
    C. Should the advisers conclude that the guidelines in Paragraphs 3 and 4 above are violated they will inform the editor or producer to meet with the Chair of the Board of Student Media. Should the Chair and student editor or producer fail to agree, the Chair will convene the Board of Student Media for a resolution of the issue. 
    D. A student editor or producer may be removed by the Chair of the Board of Student Media should it become clear that the he or she is incompetent to perform the duties of an editor or producer in a professional manner. The Board may also remove an editor or producer by a majority vote after a hearing with the editor or producer. 
    E. The opinion and editorial functions of student media must state explicitly that the opinions expressed there are those of the editors or producers and not those of the student body, administration or faculty of the University. 
  1. The Board of Student Media membership comprises the chair of the Emerging Media Department, and the Student Media advisers. The Emerging Media Department chair will serve as chair of the Board of Student Media. 

Revised May 2009. 

(Further revisions for names changes in the department and student media in October 2024.)