NP Staff Handbook 2015

GrossePointeNorthHighSchool
STAFF HANDBOOK
Revised September 2013
ABOUT THE NORTH POINTE

Name:
North Pointe is the official student newspaper at Grosse Pointe North High School of the Grosse Pointe
Public School System in Grosse Pointe Woods, Michigan.
As a public forum for student expression, the students determine the content of the publication without
prior review. Opinions expressed represent the bylined author or the editorial board.
Location:
Grosse Pointe North High School

707 Vernier Road
Grosse Pointe Woods, MI 48236
Contact:
Phone: 313.432.3248
Fax: 313.432.3257
Email: northpointe@gpschools.org
Web: myGPN.org
Format:
The North Pointe is published biweekly, 16 times per year.

It is available to all students and other North community members free of charge. Delivered subscriptions
are also available, $15 via email and $35 by U.S. post.
Printed by The ArgusPress, Owosso, MI
Typical issues are 812 broadsheet pages.
Adviser:
Shari Adwers (sadwers@gmail.com or shari.adwers@gpschools.org)

The North Pointe is edited and produced by Advanced Journalism students at Grosse Pointe North High School and is published bi-weekly.
Comments should be directed to the student editors, who are responsible for all of the newspapers content.
The views expressed are solely those of the authors or the student editorial board and do not reflect the opinions of the Grosse Pointe
school system or its employees.
We are a member of the Michigan Scholastic Press Association, Columbia Scholastic Press Association and National Scholastic Press
Association. We subscribe to McClatchy-Tribune Information Services and iStockphoto.com.
One copy of is available free to all community members. Additional copies may be purchased. Our editorial policy and advertising rates are
available online at: myGPN.org. The North Pointe is printed on 100 percent recycled paper.
CONTACT US
707 Vernier Road
Grosse Pointe Woods MI, 48236
Phone: 313.432.3248
Fax: 313.432.3257
E-mail: northpointe@gpschools.org
Website: myGPN.org
2 | N o r t h P o i n t e S t a f f H a n d b o o k
THE RULES
North Pointe staff members are given a high level
of freedom and responsibility, so formal rules and
classroom discipline should seldom be necessary.
However, here are some ideas that will make life
more pleasant for everyone if followed.
Never be in the journalism room when

youre supposed to be in another class. Do
not ever use North Pointe as an attendance
excuse for another teacher. Only the adviser
can excuse you. Working in the journalism
room during your tutorial must be approved in
advance. Staff members are not excused late to
any class unless given a pass by the adviser.
Never pull a student out of class for an
interview. Not any class, any time.
Occasionally, an interview during tutorial
might be arranged. The interview should take
place in the journalism room or in your tutorial
room and the adviser will sign a pass for the
student.
Lead by example.
Work with intensity.
Act with integrity.
Pay attention to detail.
The Standards of North Pointe

1st RULE: You do not miss deadlines on
NORTH POINTE.
2nd RULE: Communicate.
3rd RULE: Start with the horse.
The journalism room is not a student lounge.

Nonstaff members should not be invited into
the office without approval from the adviser.
Empty your mailbox daily. Mailboxes are for

messages, not storage of North Pointe or
personal items.
5th RULE: Gripes go up, not down. Always up.
Do not leave items lying around the room.

Many other students use this space. Desktops
will be cleared off and items trashed daily.
Food and drinks must especially be cleaned up.
6th RULE: No friends, no family. (The living

room rule.)
Computers are for journalism students and

journalism assignments. Personal work must
take place only when time allows.
7th RULE: Revisions will go on as long as they

have to (up to deadline).
Music must always be schoolappropriate and

not loud enough to be heard in the hallway.
Do not leave items in the refrigerator more

than one day. They will be thrown out without
warning.
8th RULE: Be proactive and dont trust

anyone.
Do not post decorations/signs in the room

without adviser approval.
You need to have your school ID badge with a

special sticker on the back as a North Pointe
hall pass.
We occasionally will ask to take a photo at the

end of class. This is done in the hallway outside
of the room during the last minute or so of
class. The photographer will be holding a
camera when he/she makes the request.
4th RULE: Keep it real.
9th RULE: Hold your criticism for 24 hours.

10th RULE: There is no I in North Pointe.
You dont work for a grade you work to
create and have fun.
N o r t h P o i n t e S t a f f H a n d b o o k | 3
ETHICS PLEDGE FOR NORTH POINTE STAFF

As a North Pointe staff member, I am a school leader, part of a team recognized for its high standards. A journalists
mission is to serve the public by seeking out and reporting the facts as accurately as possible. Good journalists and
scholars share a commitment to the same principle: integrity in their work.
To fulfill my responsibility to the team, I commit to honesty and fairness and to not plagiarize or cheat.
By signing this ethics pledge, I agree to maintain the highest standards of honesty and foster ethical behavior at all
times. Failure to uphold these ethical standards is a serious violation of trust. Penalties can range from an E on an
assignment to a failing grade in the course, depending on the decision of the school administration.
Cheating: I will not cheat on academic assignments for journalism or use North Pointe time and resources to
cheat for another class. Examples:
Using or attempting to use, for any of my classes, unauthorized assistance, material or study aids in
examinations or other academic exercises, using resources not expressly approved by the teacher, working
with another student without teacher approval, tampering with grades, purchasing a paper written by
someone else or paying someone to write an assignment for me.
Knowingly providing material or information to another person who will use it dishonestly.
Knowingly failing to report any incident of academic dishonesty of which I have actual knowledge.
Conflicts of interest: I will avoid even the appearance of conflicts of interest by not being personally involved in
a story I cover. Exceptions must be discussed with an executive editor. Examples:
I will never submit work (story or photograph) about an organization, club or team to which I belong or to
which I previously belonged without the approval of an executive editor. If an editor offers such a story to
me, I will immediately disclose my conflict of interest and request another assignment.
I will not use a close friend, relative, or employer as a source without approval of an executive editor. I will
select, as sources for my story, informed people with whom I have had no close personal relationship, or
informed people whom I know only casually at school.
Fabrication: I will not submit for publication anything that is untrue, or that I have reason to believe is untrue.
Examples:
Making up information, falsifying or manipulating quotes (even with a sources permission), faking anecdotes,
creating fictitious sources or citing nonexistent research.
If I believe a source may not be telling the truth, I will not use the information and I will seek a more reliable
and credible source. I will also point out any such suspicions to an executive editor.
Plagiarism: I will never submit plagiarized material. Examples:
Plagiarism is defined as submitting another persons work, whether previously published or not, as my own,
or taking portions of another persons work, whether published or not, and presenting them as my own in
my work without properly using quotations and attributing the source.
I will read the North Pointe (1) School Board Policy, (2) Editorial Policy, (3) Libel Law Overview and (4) Code of
Ethics, which contain detailed explanations of the above topics.
I will ask questions of my adviser and editor when issues arise.
I understand the seriousness of these issues and realize how strictly violations will be dealt with.
I accept the responsibility of upholding the reputation and integrity of the North Pointe staff.

Student signature

Parent signature: My child is aware of these policies
SCHOOL BOARD POLICY

The North Pointe is a laboratory for journalism students
designed to serve the total community of North High
School, Grosse Pointe Woods, Michigan. As a laboratory,
the newspaper provides staff members with
independent writing opportunities with individual
evaluation. Writing is based on a wide variety of
research for a broad and often critical audience. The
experience demands responsibility and cooperation.
The Executive Board is ultimately the publisher of the
North Pointe, acting with the privileges and within the
limits established by the Board of Education. The North
Pointe does not participate in any form of prior review.
The Executive Board is chaired by the editorinchief
(informally usually just called the editor) and meets
weekly to review business operations and coverage
planning. The Board can also propose the promotion or
discipline of staff members and the reorganization of job
duties to the adviser and editor, who will decide on any
recommendations. An Editorial Board approves the
papers position for the editorial each issue.
Should the adviser disagree with decision reached by the
board, he may request a reevaluation after an
explanation of his opinion. The adviser has the power to
veto a board decision. The advisers veto should be
immediately appealed in accordance with School Board
policy JHCA.
The following guidelines are designed to assist the
Executive Board with the many difficult decisions they
face in directing a highquality publication. Policies
cannot cover every situation. Seek advice when
questions arise.
SchoolBoardPolicyJHCAStudentMedia
Adapted by the Board of Education, August 2006
Freedom of expression and freedom of the press are
core values in our democratic society. The mission of the
Grosse Pointe Public Schools includes teaching students
these values, both by example and by lesson.
As determined by the courts, student exercise of
freedom of expression and freedom of the press are
protected by both state and federal law, especially by the
First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. Grosse Pointe
Public School administrators and teachers are
responsible for encouraging and ensuring freedom of
expression and freedom of the press for all students,
regardless of whether the ideas expressed may be
considered unpopular, critical, controversial, tasteless or
offensive.
Schoolsponsored student media include print, oral, or
electronic media that are created, composed, compiled,
published, and/or distributed under the supervision of
an advisor employed by the school system or appointed
by the school system to supervise that particular
medium. Two types of media are generally considered

schoolsponsored student media.
Media that are produced as part of a course

such as a newspaper or video announcements
are schoolsponsored media. Creating media
that serve the school community is an integral
part of the learning that occurs for journalism
students.
Media that are produced in a program outside

the regular school day, have an advisor
employed or appointed by the school district to
supervise that particular medium, use school
district facilities during their production, and/or
receive other support from the school district
(such as funding) are schoolsponsored media.
Examples of media in this category are the
middle school and high school literary
magazines.
Content in these media may reflect areas of student

interest, including topics about which there may be
dissent or controversy. The advisor will teach students
the principles of good journalism and will offer advice to
students on their content decisions before and after
publication. Because these media are learning
laboratories for students, student writers, editors, and
producers will be the primary decision makers
regarding content for schoolsponsored media. However,
the advisor will ensure that appropriate review
procedures are in place before publication. The advisor
may remove an article or item or cancel distribution of a
schoolsponsored student medium if it:
Is obscene as to minors according to current

legal definition;
Is libelous according to current legal definition;
Creates a material or substantial disruption of

the normal school activity or appropriate
discipline in the operation of the school;
Is an invasion of privacy according to current

legal definition;
Advertises drugs, drug paraphernalia, liquor,

weapons as defined by the Student Code of
Conduct, Policy JCD, or any products or services
that would be illegal for use by minors; or
Erroneously attributes the views of the writer to

the school or the district.
As a matter of routine, the principal or designated

assistant principal shall not become involved in
decisions regarding publication or distribution.
However, the board recognizes that there may be
situations in which the principal or designated assistant
principal may involve himself or herself in such a
decision. On these rare occasions, the principal or
designated assistant principal shall be guided by the

same guidelines identified above, and will meet with the
advisor to discuss a plan of action.
Schoolsponsored media shall operate within these
guidelines and any governing organizational policy shall
be consistent with these guidelines.
AppealingDecisiontoRestrainPublication
A student may appeal a decision by the adviser, the
principal, or the designated assistant principal to
remove an article or item or to cancel distribution. At
every stage of the appeal process, those considering the
appeal will determine if the article or item in question:
Is obscene as to minors according to current

legal definition;
Is libelous according to current legal definition;
Creates a material or substantial disruption of

the normal school activity or appropriate
discipline in the operation of the school;
Is an invasion of privacy according to current

legal definition;
Advertises drugs, drug paraphernalia, liquor,

weapons or any products or services that would
be illegal for use by minors; or
Erroneously attributes the views of the writer to

the school or the district.
If the adviser acts to remove an article or item or to

cancel distribution, a students first appeal should be
made to the schools principal or an assistant principal
designated to perform this function. The student should
notify the principal or designated assistant principal of
his desire to appeal by the end of the next school day.
The student may support his case with relevant
witnesses and/or materials. The principal or designated
assistant principal will make a decision regarding the
appeal by the end of the next school day.
If the student remains dissatisfied with the decision of

the principal or designated assistant principal or if the
principal initiated the restraint of publication or
distribution, he may appeal this decision to the
superintendent. The student should notify the
superintendent, either orally or in writing, of his desire
to appeal by the end of the second school day following
the principals decision. The superintendent or
designated assistant superintendent will conduct a
hearing by the end of the third day after the appeal has
been received. The student may support his case with
relevant witnesses and/or materials. The
superintendent or designated assistant superintendent
shall render his or her decision in writing by the end of
the next school day following the hearing.
If the student remains dissatisfied with the
superintendents or designated assistant
superintendents decision, he may appeal this decision to
the board of education. The student shall notify the
secretary of the board in writing, of his desire to appeal
by the end of the second school day following the
superintendents or designated assistant
superintendents decision. The board will conduct a
hearing by the end of 10 school days after the notice of
an appeal has been filed with the secretary of the board.
The student may support his case with relevant
witnesses and/or materials. The board shall render its
decision in writing by the end of three school days
following the hearing. Publishing or disseminating the
article or item in question during a pending appeal
process shall be grounds for suspension.
EDITORIAL POLICY
Advertising
Billing Terms
The North Pointe may publish advertisements from

individuals and businesses with signed contracts on file,
as long as the advertisement does not violate any of the
publications other policies. The Editorial Board can
choose to decline an advertisement.
Advertisers will be sent an invoice at the end of each

month, with payment due upon receipt.
Advertising placed by individuals must be paid in

advance.
New business clients with contracts of $100 or more

will be asked to pay 50 percent in advance.
Advertisers agree to give 30 days notice of the

cancellation a contract.
The North Pointe may cancel contracted advertising

should the issue be cancelled or space becomes
unavailable. In such cases, the North Pointe will not
charge the advertiser, will give advanced notice and
offer alternatives.
All newspapers are businesses, even the North Pointe

student newspaper. The North Pointe makes money,
mainly, by selling advertising. The newsroom, however,
operates completely separate from the business side of
the operation. The news coverage has nothing to do with
advertising.
Its that separation that may cause to sometimes see
news reports revealing unflattering information about a
frequent advertiser or detailing the accomplishments
of a business that never advertises. That separation of
the news coverage from the newspapers financial
interests is necessary to protect the papers credibility.
1,800 copies of the North Pointe are printed and

distributed free to North students and circulated to
all schools in the district, along with subscribing
parents, alumni, faculty emeritus and exchange
schools.
All advertising must conform to North Pointe

editorial policy.
The North Pointe Editorial Board will refuse any

advertisement it deems to advocate illegal activities,
or be libelous, irresponsible or obscene.
Advertorials or other advertisements made to

appear as news will not be run.
Advertising inserts are not accepted.
Political advertising for school campaigns is not

accepted.
AnonymousSources:SeeSources
Censorship:SeeSchoolBoardPolicy,Page7
In the unlikely event of censorship or prior review by
school administrators, it is the students role and not the
advisers to respectfully and intelligently oppose the
censorship through proper channels. It is the students
freedom that is at stake and the adviser does not enjoy
those rights in the school setting. The editors should also
contact the Student Press Law Center for advice (703
8071904, splc@splc.org).
ConflictofInterest
Staff must avoid the appearance of conflicts of interest
by not being personally involved in the stories they
cover. Exceptions must be discussed with an executive
editor. Examples include:
A reporter should not cover an event put on or

participated in by a club, organization or team in
which he or she is a member. Such reporters may
consult with the reporter assigned to the story. The
same principle applies to situations when the
reporters family is involved.
Submissions & Deadlines
Advertising sale deadlines are two weeks prior to

the issue.
The editorinchief may not also hold the position of

Student Association president.
Advertising placement deadlines are one week prior

to the issue.
No writer may do both the objective news coverage

and editorial commentary on a single issue or event.
Clients are encouraged to submit their own

advertisements as PDF files.
No writer should participate in or get involved in an

event they cover (other than for the Ideas page).
Basic advertisement design is included in the

standard rate. Charges may be made for extensive
services. No additional charge will be made for the
use of photos or art.
Corrections
The North Pointe is obligated to correct any error as
soon as possible, no matter the level of consequence for
the error. The corrections are generally ran in the news
briefs section, unless the error is so egregious to warrant
more Page 1 placement. The absence of such corrections
calls into question a mediums ability to call itself a
public forum.
Anyone who reports an error in the North Pointe should
be directed to talk to the adviser or editor in person.
Sometimes critics are rude. Staff members must never
allow anyone (even an adult) to berate or intimidate
them. See Criticism.
Errors in grammar will not receive a public correction.
CriticismfromReaders
The North Pointe encourages reader feedback, including
criticism. Sometimes critics are rude. Staff members
must never allow anyone (even an adult) to berate or
intimidate them. Notify the editor or adviser.
DisciplineofNorthPointestaffmembers:
SeeExecutiveBoard
EditorialBoard
The North Pointe Editorial Board consists of the editor,
managing editors and deputy (section) editors. Two staff
members to represent the general staff may be selected
at the discretion of the editor.
The board meets each issue to inform section editors of
coverage and production plans. The board will also
discuss and vote on the position for the staff editorial.
The editor will assign a writer for the editorial and later
ensure the position taken reflects the boards directive.
The reporter writing who has written the news report
will not write the editorial.
Editorial Board meetings are generally held on Tuesdays
prior to production nights. The purpose is to plan the
next issue and approve Ideas page items including the
editorial.
Sample Editorial Board Meeting Agenda
The North Pointe reserves the right to review any

feedback before publishing or posting and may also
remove comments made to articles on the Web site
(myGPN.org) if they do not meet our standards. Under
no circumstance is a noneditor to respond to any reader
criticism, whether the staffer was contacted via email or
in person. Only the editorinchief should respond to
feedback. Furthermore, staff members may not post
comments on the Web site.
1.
Editors announcements
2.
Advisers announcements
3.
Assign pages to page editors.
4.
Assign content to pages.
Death
5.
The death of a member of the school community is a

tragic event that deserves respect. The goal is to allow
appropriate discussion of the circumstances.
Accordingly, The North Pointe will report when the
Editorial Board deems it appropriate, following these
guidelines.
Suicides of minors are not reported, unless they

occur in public.
Otherwise, any current student, staff member,
faculty member or building administrator who dies
during the year will be covered.
The story will publish factual information (date of
birth, date of death, survivors, organizations,
hobbies and interests) in a 300word obituary and
include one mug shot if possible.
The editor will first obtain permission from the

deceaseds family before publishing any information
regarding the cause of death.
An issue will not be dedicated to or in memory of the

deceased.
a.
Editors plan art for pages
b.
Editors plan dummy layouts for pages
Assign editorial topic

a.
Discuss North Pointes items
6.
Discuss any staff problems and possible

solutions
7.
Other topics from editors
The Editorial Board also advises the Executive Board

and can overrule an executive decision with a 2/3 vote.
Editorials&Letters
The Editorial Board votes to approve editorials.
Editorials: Editorials are the official position of The

North Pointe Editorial Board.
Viewpoints: Other signed opinion articles represent

solely the perspective of the author.
Letters: The North Pointe will attempt to publish all

letters to the editor from a member of the school
community, unless an unusually large number of
submissions does not allow. In such an event,
readers will be directed to read all submitted letters
on the North Pointe Web site (myGPN.org).
However, The North Pointe may refuse to publish a
letter deemed to have no value as news or criticism.
Letters to the editor may be edited for length

and news writing style. If the letter is shortened,
an editor will show the author a copy of the new
version prior to publication.
b) They must be in the upper third of their class in

general scholastic standing, either for the year
of their election or for the cumulative total of all
high school work.
Letters to the editor must be verified with the

author.
c) They must have done superior work in some

phase of journalism or school publications
work. They may be staffers of a magazine,
newspaper, yearbook, news bureau or
radio/television station.
Errors:SeeCorrections
ExecutiveBoard
The North Pointe Executive Board consists of the
adviser, the editorinchief and other editors appointed
by those two. The Executive Board makes all policy
decisions and governs the daytoday operation of the
newspaper. A policy decision may be overturned by a
twothirds majority vote of the Editorial Board. The
Executive Board meets weekly; more often if needed.
The Executive Board, in consultation with the adviser,
will make recommendations to the adviser regarding
disciplinary actions and staffing problems. The final
decisions on these matters will rest with the adviser.
Gifts
Reporters should not accept gifts in their role on the
North Pointe staff. Promotional items for reviews
coverage may be accepted by the adviser on behalf of the
staff. The items will be given to student reporters for the
purpose of writing a review.
d) They must be recommended by the supervisor

or by the committee governing publications.
There are no annual dues to Quill & Scroll. When a
candidate is recommended for membership, he or she
pays a onetime initiation fee ($15 in 200910). The
Society then provides the initiate with an official
membership card, a membership insignia and a oneyear
subscription to Quill & Scroll magazine. The publication
adviser will order the honor cord and provide it to the
graduate.
Additionally, to earn an honor cord, the North

English department criteria must be met.
a) They must have served multiple years on a
publication staff.
b) They must have served in a leadership position.
c) They must have received grades of A or above.
FairUse
Libel&Privacy:Seealsolibelpolicy,Page17
The North Pointe editors will ensure that the publication

respects copyright laws and train the staff on
appropriate fair use. Copyright law contains a list of
the various purposes for which the reproduction of a
particular work may be considered fair, such as
criticism, comment, news reporting and teaching. To
comply, we will only use:
Libel is illegal. Every journalist must understand the

legal definition of libel and the four key elements of
establishing it: publication, identification, injury and
fault. There are five defenses against libel charges: truth,
privilege, fair comment, consent and right of reply.
myGPN.org
a small portion of the copyrighted work,
The myGPN.org Web site is an extension of the North

Pointes print edition and all rules and policies apply.
in reference to news or commentary about the

copyright owner of that work,
Obscene:SeealsoProfanity
from a legally obtained source.
JournalismHonorsSociety:
Criteriaforgraduationcords
Wearing an honors cord at the graduation ceremony is a
select privilege.
Students must join the Quill & Scroll Society

(www.uiowa.edu/~quillsc). Quill & Scrolls
membership criteria:
a) They must be of junior or senior classification.
Second semester sophomores may be initiated
during the last grading period of their
sophomore year. Their membership will
become effective at the beginning of their junior
year.
Obscene material is illegal and will not be published by

the North Pointe. Something is obscene, as defined by
the Supreme Court in Miller v. The State of California,
1973, when it satisfies all three of the following tests. (1)
Something a reasonable person, applying contemporary
community standards, would find to appeal to prurient
interest, when taken as a whole; (2) Work which depicts
or describes, in a patently offensive way, sexual conduct
specifically defined by the applicable state law; and (3)
Work, when taken as a whole, lacks serious literary,
artistic, political, or scientific value.
publication, taken as a whole, appeals to a

minors prurient interest in sex; and
PriorReview:SeealsoCensorship
The North Pointe will not be prior reviewed by
administration, faculty or students prior to its release to
the public. The editor or adviser may seek advice from
the administration at any point in production.
Sources may, upon request, be presented with a copy of
their quotations for confirmation by the reporter
assigned to the story. The adviser must be informed in
the event of such a request. Sources will not be allowed
to preview a draft of a story before publication. Anyone
pressured on this policy must notify the adviser.
ProhibitedMaterial
Reprinted with permission: Student Press Law Center,
Washington, DC, 202-466-5242 (www.splc.org)
Students cannot publish or distribute libelous

material. Libelous statements are provable false
and unprivileged statements that injure an
individuals or businesss reputation in the
community. If the allegedly libeled party is a public
figure or public official as defined below, then
school officials must show that the false statement
was published with actual malice, i.e., that the
student journalists knew that the statement was
false, or that they published it with reckless
disregard for the truth without trying to verify
the truthfulness of the statement.
(1) A public official is a person who holds an elected or

appointed public office.
(2) A public figure either seeks the publics attention or
is well known because of personal achievements.
(3) School employees are public officials or public
figures in articles concerning their schoolrelated
activities.
(4) When an allegedly libelous statement concerns a
private individual, school officials must show that
the false statement was published willfully or
negligently, i.e., the student journalist who wrote or
published the statement has failed to exercise
reasonably prudent care.
b) the publication depicts or describes, in a

patently offensive way, sexual conduct such as
ultimate sexual acts (normal or perverted),
masturbation, and lewd exhibition of the
genitals; and
c) the work, taken as a whole, lacks serious
literary, artistic, political, or scientific value;
(2) Indecent or vulgar language is not obscene.
Students cannot publish or distribute material

that will cause a material and substantial
disruption of school activities.
(1) Disruption is defined as student rioting; or

substantial seizures of property; or substantial
student participation in a school boycott, sitin,
walkout, or other related form of activity. Materials
such as racial, religious or ethnic slurs, however
distasteful, are not in and of themselves disruptive
under these guidelines. Threats of violence are not
materially disruptive without some act in
furtherance of that threat or a reasonable belief and
expectation that the author of the threat has the
capability and intent of carrying through on that
threat in a fashion not permitting acts other than
suppression of speech to mitigate the threat in a
timely manner. Material that stimulates heated
discussion or debate does not constitute the type of
disruption prohibited.
(2) For a student publication to be considered
disruptive, specific facts must exist upon which one
could reasonably forecast that a likelihood of
immediate, substantial material disruption to
normal school activity would occur if the material
were distributed or has occurred as a result of the
materials distribution. Mere undifferentiated fear or
apprehension of disturbance is not enough; school
administrators must be able to show substantial
facts that reasonably support a forecast of likely
disruption.
(1) Obscene as to minors is defined as material that

meets all three of the following requirements:
(3) In determining whether a student publication is

disruptive, consideration must be given to the
context of the distribution as well as the content of
the material. In this regard, consideration should be
given to past experience in the school with similar
material, past experience in the school in dealing
with and supervising the students in the school,
current events influencing student attitudes and
behavior, and whether there have been any
instances of actual or threatened disruption prior to
or contemporaneously with the dissemination of the
student publication in question.
a) The average person, applying contemporary

community standards, would find that the
(4) School officials must protect advocates of unpopular

viewpoints.
(5) Under the fair comment rule, a student is free to

express an opinion on a matter of public interest.
Specifically, a student may criticize school policy or
the performance of teachers, administrators, school
officials and other school employees.
Students cannot publish or distribute material that

is obscene as to minors. Minor means any person
under the age of 18.
(5) School activity means educational student activity

sponsored by the school and includes, by way of
example and not by way of limitation, classroom
work, library activities, physical education, official
assemblies and other similar gatherings, school
athletic contests, band concerts, school plays, and
scheduled inschool lunch periods.
Advertising is constitutionally protected expression.

School publications may accept advertising.
Acceptance or rejection of advertising is within the
purview of the publication staff, who may accept any
ads except for those for a product or service that are
illegal for students. Political ads may be accepted.
The publication should not accept ads only on one
side of an issue or election.
Reporters must never promise a source anonymity

until getting approval from the editorinchief. The
promise must be precise. The North Pointe will not
use your name in print or reveal it to a school
official. However, we will comply with a legal
subpoena if compelled to do so. Stand by promises.
Consider sources motives before promising
anonymity. Verify information given by an
anonymous source. Be cautious in making promises;
consult the editor; take time to consider
ramifications of promises; dont be pressured.
Anonymous sources can be used to tell their own

stories but cannot be used to accuse others of
embarrassing, illegal or unethical behavior.
The adviser should not know who the sources are.

The editor must. (The adviser does not have
freedom of press rights in a student publication; the
students do).
In the story identify the source as accurately as

possible (e.g. a senior girl said) without creating a
false name, if possible.
Profanity
Profanity and bad taste are not illegal, yet it is
reasonable for a student publication to avoid both. It is
difficult to make absolute rules governing the use of
stories and illustrations that have the potential to offend
readers. If a writer and section editor feel profanity is
necessary to appropriately tell a story, approval of the
Editorial Board is required.
Reporting
Editorial and opinion articles will be clearly
distinguished from news reports, which must be free
from editorializing. Reporters will not falsity
information, invent quotes, quote out of context, or
deceive people of their role as a reporter. Polls will be
scientifically based, with statistically accurate sampling
methods. Reporters will strive to present multiple
perspectives on issues.
StaffMembership
The privilege of serving on the North Pointe staff is
earned by completing the prerequisite course of
Journalism or Honors Journalism with grades of a B or
better each semester. The prerequisite can be waived by
the adviser. Behaviors that warrant dismissal from a
staff position include but are not limited to:
a violation of the North Pointe Ethics Pledge,
a violation of confidentiality and privacy of staff

discussions,
RRatedEntertainment
misusing North Pointe privileges or resources,
Reviews of Rrated movies, Mrated video games and

explicit music must be approved by the editorinchief
prior to being approved for assignment.
consistent missing of deadlines,
significant and/or repeated disruption of the

working and learning environment, including
disrespect for student editors.
Sources
Reporters will avoid quoting their friends, unless

they are directly involved in the story. Consulting an
executive editor is advised.
Reporters will not quote or photograph North

Pointe staff members unless they are essential
sources for the story and approved by an executive
editor.
Quotations must be attributed to named sources.
Anonymous Source Guidelines
Use anonymous sources only if there is a compelling

reason and only if the information given can be
verified through another, known source. When
sources are not given, people may question the
credibility not only of the source but also of the
news medium.
The adviser may unilaterally invoke this policy at any

time. Additionally, any editor may present a
recommendation for dismissal to the Executive Board,
with documentation. The board will then notify the staff
member of the pending discussion and the charges. The
adviser will notify a parent. A meeting of the board will
be held to hear the charges and the defense. The board
may then discuss the case in closed session and decide
by a majority vote to dismiss or find another resolution.
A dismissed staff member may appeal any decision in
writing within one week, and the board and a principal
will read this appeal. A majority vote by the editorial
board is needed to overturn the dismissal.
Students dismissed from the North Pointe staff may elect
to continue to enroll in Advanced Journalism class but
may not contribute material for publication in the North
Pointe while not on staff.
LIBEL LAW OVERVIEW

Student Press Law Center: Reprinted with permission
Libel is the publication in words, photos, pictures or

symbols of false statements of fact that harm anothers
reputation. (Libel is a form of defamation. Slander is the
spoken version of defamation.) Reprinting or re
broadcasting a libelous statement made by someone else
(such as a quote or a letter to the editor) can also subject a
publication to a libel lawsuit. However, if a statement is
true, it cannot be the basis of a successful libel claim.
ThePIHFchecklist
There are four elements a person must establish in order to
prove he or she has been defamed: (1) Publication, (2)
Identification, (3) Harm and (4) Fault. Each of the four
elements must be proven. For example, even if a story you
have written meets the publication, harm and fault
elements, a libel claim will still fail if you have not
identified the claimant.
Publication
organizations, can be defamed. Like individuals, their

reputations affect their ability to conduct their affairs in a
community.
Harm
A statement is harmful if it seriously shames, ridicules,
disgraces or injures a persons reputation or causes others
to do so. Statements that are mildly embarrassing or
merely confusing or inaccurate will not meet the harm
test.
The following are examples of Red Flag statements that
could cause significant harm to a persons reputation; extra
caution is advised:
Statements regarding improper sexual conduct. (For

example, printing that a student is pregnant.)
Statements that associate someone with a vile disease.
Statements that accuse someone of illegal behavior.
Statements that hurt someones livelihood.
A statement is published if it is communicated to

someone other than the person whom the statement is
about.
Statements that allege racial or religious bigotry.
Publication can take many forms and does not simply mean
that the statement has been printed in a newspaper or
other document. For example, a defamatory statements
presence on a computer screen in the newsroom where it
is read by other students could constitute publication.
In order to be at fault in publishing a statement, the

person suing must prove that the reporter either did
something they should not have done or that they failed to
do something that they should have done. If the reporter
did everything a reasonable reporter should have done to
verify the information in his or her story before publishing
it for example, talked to all sides, obtained and read all
relevant documents, took accurate notes, etc. the reporter
is not legally at fault. People suing for libel who are either
public officials or public figures will often have to prove a
higher level of fault than an ordinary person.
Identification
A statement identifies a person if it is shown that it is of
and concerning that person.
Disguising a Subjects Identity: Where you successfully
omit or alter a subjects identity, they cannot successfully
sue you for libel. Care should be taken that: (1) the
subjects identity has been disguised enough so that no one
can reasonably make an identification and (2) the
disguised subject does not resemble some third party who
would then have cause for complaint. Every story should
clearly state what facts have been altered.
Group Libel: Individuals can be defamed; groups of people
cannot be. The key question is whether a statement about a
group can reasonably be interpreted to refer to a specific
individual in the group. While there is no hard rule, several
courts have indicated that individual members of a group
larger than 25 will have a difficult time proving that they
have suffered individual harm. On the other hand,
individuals in a smaller group may be able to claim that
their reputation has been damaged. For example, the
generic statement, the tennis team is being investigated
for substance abuse could subject a publication to a libel
suit if the team consists of just 12 members.
Corporation or Entity Libel: Corporations and other
business entities, including private schools and religious
Fault
The Public Official/Public Figure Standard

New York Times Company v. Sullivan (1964)
In order for a public official or a public figure to prove
defamation, they must prove actual malice. Actual malice
requires that the person suing prove that the challenged
statement was published by those who either knew it was
false or were reckless in verifying its accuracy.
Who is a Public Official?
The Supreme Court has said that a public official is one
who, at the very least, has or appears to the public to have,
a substantial responsibility for or control over
governmental affairs.
Who is a Public Figure? There are two categories:
(1) General Purpose Public Figure: a celebrity, whose
pervasive fame or notoriety has made his or her name a
household word.
(2) Limited Purpose Public Figure: someone who has
voluntarily assumed a leading role in a particular public
controversy.
Standard for Private Persons (everyone else)
OpinionVersusFact
In most states, a private person need only prove that a

reporter was negligent, that is, that the reporter made a
mistake perhaps an innocent one that a reasonable
reporter should not have made.
Statements of pure opinion cannot be libelous. However,

simply leading off an article with In my opinion ...,
publishing something on the opinion page or using the
word alleged provides no automatic protection from a
libel charge. The test is whether the expression is capable
of being proven true or false. Pure opinions, by their very
nature, cannot be proven true or false. Milkovich v. Lorain
Journal Co. (1990)
SPLC hint: Dont get bogged down trying to decide whether

your subject is a public or private figure. That is a game
best left to media lawyers. As a practical matter, it is safest
to assume that every one of your subjects is a private
person and that you will be held to the lowest fault
standard if you publish inaccurate information. Remember,
if you do everything a reasonable reporter would do for
every story that you publish you will never be successfully
sued for libel.
Defensestolibelclaims
If a libel plaintiff proves each of the four PIHF elements, the
burden then shifts to the publication to offer one of the
following defenses:
Satire and Cartoons: If a statement cannot reasonably be

interpreted by readers to be one of express or implied fact,
it cannot be libelous. In Walko v. Kean College of New
Jersey (1988) a case involving an ad that associated a
college assistant dean with a telephone sex service, the
court stated that A parody or spoof that no reasonable
person would read as a factual statement, or as anything
other than a joke albeit a bad joke cannot be actionable
as a defamation.
Consent
A person who consents to the media's use of a libelous
statement about him cannot later sue if the statement does,
in fact, injure his or her reputation. Note that special issues
can arise when dealing with a younger person's ability to
provide valid consent.

Truth
Truth, while it must still be proven, is an absolute defense
to libel. In many cases involving media defendants the
burden is actually on the person suing not on the
publication to prove the falsity of specific statements.
Privilege
Subject to several requirements, which may vary by state,
the media is protected from liability when they publish fair
and accurate accounts of official public proceedings and
reports even if the information reported later turns out to
be false. For example, if a police report states that Jack
Smith was arrested and a newspaper accurately reports
the information, the newspaper will not be held liable even
if it is later revealed that police actually arrested Jack
Brown and officers made a mistake when they wrote down
his name. To qualify for the privilege:
The information must be obtained from a record or

proceeding recognized by the state as official.
The media report must be fair and accurate. A fair

report is one that is balanced and presented in context.
The source of the statement should be clearly noted in

the media report.
Other privileges exist, but vary from jurisdiction to

jurisdiction.
CODE OF ETHICS
Adapted with permission from The NSPA Model Code of Ethics for High School Journalists
1BeResponsible.
(1.1)Understandthatstudentsare
custodians,notowners,oftheNorth
Pointe,andtheyhaveaninherent
obligationindecisionmakingto
considerthereputationof
publication,thevaluesoftheschool
community,theeducational
concernsofschoolofficials,andthe
wantsofreaders.
(1.2)Keepyourself,thereporter,out
ofprint.Itsnotaboutyou;its
aboutthereadersyouserve.Forthe
mostpart,studentreportersand
editorsshouldnotappearinthe
NorthPointeunlesstheyare
legitimatenewsmakers.Inthose
cases,theparticularstudent
journalistsshouldhavenoinfluence
onthecoverage,andanyconflictof
interestshouldbedisclosed.
(1.3)Striveforsubstantivestories
thatproduceinsight,generate
accountabilityandinspirereader
interestandengagement.Donot
yieldtothosewhowouldsuppress
suchinsightorresistaccountability.
(1.4)Rememberthatprotectionsof
theFirstAmendmentwerecreated
toservenotthepressbutratherthe
people,andasajournalistyoumust
guardthepeoplesinterestsabove
allothers.
(1.5)Knowthelegalrightsof
studentjournalistsandbalance
thoserightswithethical
responsibilities.Havingtherightto
saysomethingdoesntmake itright
tosayit.
(1.6)DefendrelentlesslytheFirst
Amendmentrightsofstudents.
Protectrelentlesslymediaadvisers
fromretributionbroughtaboutby
theiradvocacyofstudentrights.
(1.7)Demonstratecredibilityand
exemplifytrustworthiness,
reliability,dependabilityand
integrityinandbeyondjournalism
work.Yourpersonalattributesaffect
theintegrityoftheNorthPointe.
(1.8)Becarefulincoveringstories
aboutwrongdoingnottoperpetuate
misdeeds.Forexample,printinga
photographofmaliciousgraffiti
expandsthevandalscanvas.
(1.9)Donotallowvulgarorprofane
languagetoovershadowthe
essenceofastory.Ifused,have
compellingpurposeandrationaleto
justifytheaudiencesneedtoread
vulgarorprofanewords.Consider
alternativestousingprofanity.For
example,wordsmaybepartially
obscuredorbleeped.Donotuse
profanityinopinionarticles,suchas
editorials,columnsandletterstothe
editor.
(1.10)Maintainacommendable
workethicpursuingexcellence,
takinginitiative,keepingtotask,
meetingdeadlinesandtakingcareof
theworkplaceandequipment.
Inspirefellowstaffmemberstodo
thesame.
(1.11)Cultivaterespectforyour
adviser,fellowstaffers,school
officialsandothers.Nurturean
effectiveworkingrelationshipwithin
thestaff.Keepemotionsincheck.
Supportteameffortingatheringand
reportingnews.Beloyalin
protectingthebestinterestsofyour
newsmedium.
(1.12)Knowwhentoshowrestraint
inpursuingstories.Forexample,a
spontaneousdemonstrationinthe
cafeteriabythreestudents
protestingtheinschoolsuspension
ofafriendmayreceivenotoriety,
butitsnewsvaluelikelyis
insignificant.Furthermore,coverage
oftheincidentmaybolsterthe
participantsandemboldenothersto
disruptthecafeteriatoo.
(1.13)Exemplifyeffectiveleadership
throughthepowerofperformance
ratherthanthepowerofposition.
Expressgenuineinterestinevery
staffmember.Besensitivetoother
pointsofview.Inspireteamwork
andintrinsicmotivation.Prioritize
mentoringoverclout.
2BeFair.
(2.1)Beginthesearchfortruthwith
aneutralmind.Donotprejudge
issuesorevents;waituntilthefacts
andperspectiveshavebeen
gatheredandweighed.Discover
truthwithoutlettingpersonalbiases
getintheway.Teachpeopletolive
bytruthbypresentinginformation
objectivelyinacontextthatreveals
relevanceandsignificance.
(2.2)Explorecontroversialissues
dispassionatelyandimpartially.
Dontgointoastorywithapersonal
agenda.
(2.3)Justifycoveragedecisionsby
showingnewsworthinessofstory.
Donotuseyourpositionwiththe
papertoinflateyourego,favor
friends,oradvanceotherpersonal
agendasthatareselfserving.For
example,ifyouprofileanathleteof
theweek,bereadytoshowthe
criteriaandobjectiveprocessfor
selection.
(2.4)Pursueapanoramicvisionof
issuesandeventstoachievebalance
andfairness.Youmaynotknow
whatthestoryreallyisuntilthe
storyunfoldsasyouresearchitand
talkwithsources.
(2.5)Welcomediverseperspectives
andparticularlyrebuttalstoeditorial
positions.
(2.6)Refrainfromgettinginthelast
wordbyattachinganeditorsnote
toalettertotheeditor.Inrare
circumstances,aclarificationnote
maybejustified.
(2.7)Takeinitiativetogivesubjects
ofallegationsanopportunityto
respondinatimelymanner.Makea
seriousefforttocontactthose
subjectsbeforegoingwithastoryin
ordertoallowaresponse.
(2.8)Labelorotherwiseclearly
identifyeditorials,opinioncolumns
andpersonalperspectives.
(2.9)Discloseanypotentialconflict
ofinterestbyajournalist.For
example,conflictsofinterestscould
involvepersonalrelationshipswith
newssubjectsorsources,
associationswithorganizations,gifts
andperksandvestedinterestsin
issuesorevents.
(2.10)Appreciatethefactthatat
anygiventimeareporterseesonlya
partofwhatcanbeseen.Dont
jumptoconclusions.
3BeHonest.
(3.1)Donotplagiarize.Plagiarismis
definedasthewordforword
duplicationofanotherpersons
writingorclosesummarizationof
theworkofanothersourcewithout
givingthesourcecredit.A
comparableprohibitionappliesto
theuseofgraphics.
andnotreporting.Thegrowthof
narrativestorydevelopment
(storytellingdevices)meansthat
reportersandeditorsshouldbe
especiallycarefultonotmixfactand
fiction,andnotembellishfactwith
fictionaldetails,regardlessoftheir
significance.
(3.3)Identifyyourselfasareporter
anddonotmisrepresentyourself
whileengagedinjournalismtasks.
Forexample,asourcedeservesto
knowifheisengagedincasual
conversationwithastudentormore
guardedconversationwitha
reporter.
(3.4)Donottoleratedishonestyof
anystaffmember.Onedishonestact
ofanindividualcanprofoundly
damagethereputationofawhole
newsorganization.Becompletely
honestinreporting.Remember,
halftruthscanbejustasegregious
asoutrightlies.
Informationobtainedfroma
publishedworkmustbe
independentlyverifiedbeforeitcan
bereportedasanew,originalstory.
Thispolicyalsoforbidslifting
verbatimparagraphsfromawire
servicewithoutattributionor
pointingoutthatwirestorieswere
usedincompilingthestory.
(3.5)Standbypromises,including
protectingtheidentityof
confidentialsources.Consider
sourcesmotivesbeforepromising
anonymity.Verifyinformationgiven
byananonymoussource.Be
cautiousinmakingpromises;consult
editors;taketimetoconsider
ramificationsofpromises;dontbe
pressured.
Becauseplagiarismcansignificantly
underminethepublictrustof
journalistsandjournalism,editors
shouldbepreparedtoconsider
severepenaltiesfordocumented
casesofplagiarism,including
suspensionordismissalfromthe
staff.Plagiarismisnotonly
unethical,itisillegalifthematerial
iscopyrightprotected.
(3.6)Beguardedaboutthe
credibilityofsources,andconfirm
questionableassertions.Donotbe
misledbyinsincereorunreliable
sources.Trynottomakereader
guesswhetherasourceissincere.
Forexample,anuntruthfulor
embellishedquotefromasource
cantaintbeliefinthesincerityof
othercontributorsaswell.
(3.2)Donotfabricateanyaspect
journalismworkwithoutfull
disclosure.Theuseofcomposite
charactersorimaginarysituationsor
characterswillnotbeallowedin
newsorfeaturestories.Acolumnist
may,occasionally,usesuchan
approachindevelopingapiece,but
itmustbecleartothereaderthat
thepersonorsituationisfictional
andthatthecolumniscommentary
(3.7)Becautiousofusingsatire.
Becauseitinvolvesironyand
sarcasm,itisoftenmisunderstood.
Becauseitusuallyinvolvesridicule,
itcouldbecarriedtoan
inappropriatelevelinaschool
setting.Forexample,because
specialAprilFoolsDayeditionscan
damageapapersintegrityand
credibility,andbecausetheycan
posealibelrisk,theNorthPointe
doesnotpublishthem.
(3.8)Donotelectronicallyalterthe
contentofnewsandfeaturephotos
inanywaythataffectsthe
truthfulnessofthesubjectand
contextofthesubjectorscene.
Technicalenhancements,suchas
contrastandexposureadjustments,
areallowedsolongastheydonot
createafalseimpression.Photo
contentmaybealteredforcreative
purposesasaspecialeffectfora
featurestoryifthecaptionorcredit
lineincludesthatfactandifan
averagereaderwouldnotmistake
thephotoforreality.Striveto
recordoriginalactioninphotos,and
makesurereadersareawareifa
photoissetuporposed.
(3.9)Ifusingarecordingdevice,get
intervieweespermissionandmake
itobviouswiththeplacementofthe
devicethatyouintendtorecord.
Michiganlawrequiresbothpeople
toagreetorecordaconversation.
4BeAccurate.
(4.1)Rememberthataccuracyis
oftenmorethanjustaquestionof
gettingthefactsright.Accuracyalso
requiresputtingthefactstogether
inacontextthatisrelevantand
revealsthetruth.
(4.2)Beafirsthandwitness
wheneveryoucan.Gatherrawfacts.
Email,newsreleases,press
conferences,officialstatementsand
thelikearenosubstitutefor
firsthandaccountsandoriginal
investigation.
(4.3)Reviewstoriestomakesure
informationispresentedcompletely
andinpropercontextthatwillnot
misleadthenewsconsumer.
(4.4)Knowyoursubjectshistoryto
helpmeasurehiscredibilityasa
source.Ifthesubjecthasa
reputationforembellishing
information,makesuretoverify
informationwithanothersource.
(4.5)Bewillingtoreadbackquotes
tocheckforaccuracy.Sometimesa
sourcemaynotbesayingwhathe
reallymeans.
puthisorhernotepadandcamera
downtopartakeintheevent.
(4.6)Verifyquestionnairesanswered
bysources.Makesurenooneposed
asanotherperson.Checkcomments
forsincerityandaccuracy.
(5.5)Declareanypersonalor
unavoidableconflictofinterest,
perceivedorcertain,incovering
storiesorparticipatingineditorialor
policydecisions.
(4.8)Engageinfactcheckingevery
story.Traincopyreaderstospotred
flagsandtoverifyquestionable
information.
(4.9)Becautiousaboutinformation
receivedviatheInternet.Notall
sourcesareconsistentlycredible,
includingsitessuchasWikipedia,
YouTube,blogs,andFacebook.
Verifyquestionableinformationby
consultingothersources.
5BeIndependent.
(5.1)Recognizeinherentdifferences
betweentheprofessionalnews
mediaandthestudentnewsmedia,
andunderstandthatthelatterwill
alwaysbesubjecttosomeoversight
byschooladministrators.Show
administratorshowitisintheirbest
interestsandtheschool
communitysbestintereststo
recognizestudentindependence,
withintheparametersoflaw,in
controllingthecontentoftheirnews
medium.
(5.2)Resistpriorreviewasapractice
ofadministrativeoversightinfavor
oflessintrusiveandmoreeffective
oversightstrategies.Priorreview
dilutesstudentresponsibilityand
putsmoreresponsibilityinthe
handsofadministrators.Shouldthe
journalismexperienceteach
responsibilityorobedience?
(5.3)Holdnoobligationtonews
sourcesandnewsmakers.Journalists
andnewsmediashouldavoideven
theappearanceofconflictof
interest.
(5.4)Acceptnogifts,favorsorthings
ofvaluethatcouldcompromise
journalisticindependence,
journalisticethicsorobjectivityin
thereportingtaskathand.For
example,areportercoveringa
SpanishClubbuffeteventshouldnot
(5.6)Learnstatelawsregarding
freedomofinformation,open
meetingsandshieldlaws.News
mediaserveanessentialfunctionas
awatchdogofgovernment,and
studentjournalistsshouldnotbe
askedtoengageinanyactivitythat
istheresponsibilityofoutside
agencies,suchaslawenforcement,
schooladministrationand
government.Cooperationor
involvementintheworkofthese
agenciesshouldberestrictedto
whatisrequiredbylaw.Legal
agencies,suchastheStudentPress
LawCentermaybecontactedfor
advice.
(5.7)Avoidworkingforcompeting
newsmediaorforpeople,groupsor
organizationsthatthejournalist
covers.
(5.8)Showcourageand
perseveranceinholdingschool
officialsandotherdecisionmakers
accountablewhenstudentcontrol
ofstudentnewsmediais
threatened.
(5.9)Givenofavorednews
treatmenttoadvertisersorspecial
interestgroups.
(5.10)Guardagainstparticipatingin
anyschoolorganizationsoractivities
thatwouldsignificantlycreatea
conflictofinterest.Journalists
particularlyshouldavoidholding
officeinstudentgovernment,or
theyshouldbepreparedtoexcuse
themselvesineitherjournalismor
governmentforumswhendecision
makingcouldposeaconflictof
interest.
(5.11)Donotuseabylinefor
editorialsthatrepresentthe
opinionsoftheEditorialBoard.
6MinimizeHarm.
(6.1)Lookbeyondthelikelyimpacts
ofeachstory,keepingalertto
identifyandrespondtoany
unintendedorundesirable
consequencesthestorymayholdin
theshadows.Identifyoptionsfor
dealingwithundesirable
consequences.Determineiffull
disclosureofinformationmay
jeopardizestudentwelfare
unnecessarily;ifso,decidewhatcan
beheldbackwithoutjeopardizing
thepublicsrighttoknow.
(6.2)Reportimmediatelytoschool
authoritiesanypersonwho
threatensthesafetyofhimselfor
others.
(6.3)Chooseanoptionlessoffensive
thanselfcensorshipwhenitis
prudenttodoso.Forexample,the
sonofasecretaryaccusedof
embezzlingfromthestudentactivity
fundmaybeindistresswhen
learningthestudentpaperwillcover
thestory.Tappingtheschool
counselorratherthanengagingin
selfcensorshipisabetterremedyto
helpthesondealwithhisfearof
humiliation.
(6.4)Donotputstudentreportersin
legaljeopardyorphysicaldanger.
Undercoverstoriesmaybeunethical
andmayposesignificantrisks.
Studentjournalistsmustobeythe
law.Forexample,aminorstudent
whoillegallypurchasesliquorto
showreaderswhichstoresviolate
thelawalsoincriminateshimself.
Coveringgangissuesandother
volatiletopicsrequireclosefaculty
supervisionandsafeguardsto
protectstudentwelfare.
(6.5)Beespeciallysensitivetothe
maturityandvulnerabilityofyoung
peoplewhengatheringand
reportinginformation.Take
particularcaretoprotectyoung
sourcesfromtheirownpoor
judgmentwhentheircommentscan
putthemselvesandothersin
jeopardy.
(6.6)Donotallowsourcestousea
newsmediuminmaliciouswaysor
waysthatserveselfinterestabove
thebestinterestsofnews
consumers.Beonconstantguardto
spotclandestineeffortspublish
inappropriatemessages.
7BeAccountable.
(6.7)Showrespectandcompassion
forstudentswhomaybeaffected
detrimentallybynewscoverage.
(7.3)Usepresspassesforadmission
orspecialprivilegesonlyinthe
capacityofaworkingjournalist.
(6.8)Besensitivewhencovering
storiesinvolvingpeopleindistress,
andrejectunreasonableintrusionby
studentmediaintheirlives.
(7.4)Providenewsmediaconsumers
withopportunitiestoevaluate
studentnewsmedia.
(6.9)Balancethepublicsrighttobe
informedwithanindividualsright
tobeletalone.
(6.10)Understandandrespectthe
differentprivacyexpectationsfor
privatecitizens,publicfiguresand
publicofficialswhencoveringissues
andevents.
(6.11)Becautiousaboutidentifying
studentsaccusedofcriminalactsor
disciplinaryinfractions.Avoid
namingminors.Michiganlaw
establishessomeone18yearsoldas
anadult.Ifastudentislegallyan
adult,bereadytoshowacompelling
reasonforidentifyingthename.
Relevancyandnewsvaluecan
constituteacompellingreason.For
example,ifan18yearoldstudent
weresuspendedfromschoolfor
attendingtheHomecomingdance
drunk,thenamelikelywouldnotbe
usedinanewsstory.However,ifthe
studentistheHomecomingQueen,
thenewselementofprominence
mayjustifyusingthename.The
namesofsomecrimevictims,
especiallyvictimsofsexcrimes,
shouldbeprotectedfromdisclosure.
Donotimplicatebyassociation.For
example,donotsayaschool
secretarywasarrestedandcharged
with.Thereadercouldsuspect
anyschoolsecretary.
(7.1)Admitmistakesandpublicize
promptcorrections.
(7.2)Exposeunethicalpracticesof
studentjournalistsandstudent
newsmedia,andmakeremedies.
(7.5)Befriendlyandsincerein
welcomingcriticismandweighing
grievancesfrompublic.
(7.6)Havedialoguewith
administrators,andbepreparedto
justifydecisions,policiesand
actions.
(7.7)Keepnotesandrecordingsof
interviewsforanindefinitetimeas
evidenceofresponsiblereporting.
(7.8)Holdschooladministrators
accountablefortheiractionsand
decisionsjustastheyholdstudent
journalistsandstudentmedia
accountablefortheiractionsand
decisions.
(7.9)Usethepowerofstudent
mediajudiciously,andbeprepared
toproviderationaleforany
decisionsoractionstakenbynews
staffs.
(7.10)Useanonymoussourcesonly
ifthereisacompellingreasonand
onlyiftheinformationgivencanbe
verifiedthroughanother,known
source.Whensourcesarenotgiven,
peoplemayquestionthecredibility
notonlyofthesourcebutalsoof
thenewsmedium.
North Pointe
Styleguide

A burro is an ass. A burrow is a hole in the
ground. As a journalist you are expected to
know the difference.
The United Press International Stylebook

Styleisusedlooselytorefertocorrectnessinspelling,
grammar,syntax,usageorevenmattersoffact.
AB
ABBREVIATIONS:Whenindoubt,spellitout.
Avoid abbreviations. Dont assume the reader knows
what you are writing about. On first reference, spell out
anything that might be confusing. Student Association
(not S.A.), Advanced Placement (not AP).
When you plan to use an abbreviation later in the story,
do not follow the name of group with the abbreviation in
parentheses. Often, the later abbreviation is unnecessary
with clear writing.
The Student Association is planning an ice cream

social.
It will be a lot of fun, President Sammy Scoggin said.
Note that the abbreviation S.A. is not needed before

president because its in the previous paragraph.
Stylehierarchy
It is the associations third attempt to raise money for

student rights awareness.
1.
North Pointe Styleguide
2.
CSPA Stylebook
The abbreviation S.A. is avoided
3.
Associated Press Stylebook
Days of week: Do not abbreviate.
4.
Dictionary
Months with six or more letters are abbreviated if

they are used with a specific date. Spell out those
with five or fewer letters. Always spell out the
month when it is used without a specific date.
Top9styleessentials
(1) Abbreviations: When in doubt, spell it out.
(2) Capitalization: Avoid unnecessary capital letters.
(3) Composition titles: Use italics.
States: Always spell out state names.
Street names: Never abbreviate road. Abbreviate

avenue (Ave.), boulevard (Blvd.) and street (St.)
when a complete address is given. Otherwise,
spell out. The correct forms are: 320 N. Main St.,
North Main Street, Third Street and 42nd Street.
Course titles: do not abbreviate
(4) Numbers: Spell out singledigit numbers.

(5) Punctuation: Choose what sounds best out loud.
(6) Quotations: Get it exactly right, or dont quote it.
(7) Titles: Tell us who these people are.
(8) Voice: Always write in third person voice unless
youre deliberately changing it.
(9) Use the North Pointe Styleguide
Aug. 13, June 6. It starts in August.
accept,except
Accept means to receive: She accepts his invitation to
prom. Except means to exclude: Except she doesnt want
to go with his friends.
ACT
Sources
Acceptable abbreviation in all uses. If necessary, its an

exam, not a test. She took the ACT exam last week.
Columbia Scholastic Press Association stylebook
addresses
The Associated Press Stylebook and Libel Manual
See the ABBREVIATIONS.
The Elephants of Style by Bill Walsh
administration
Lapsing into a Comma by Bill Walsh
Lowercase.
administrator
Never abbreviate.
AdvancedPlacement
boldfontstyle
Capitalize and spell out on first reference when standing

alone. Use AP without periods on second reference or
when used with a course title.
Do not bold words in body text.
adviser
Note the e.
affect
Affect with an a is usually a verb; effect with an e is
usually a noun. To affect is the have an effect on.
Remember that affect is the verb and effect is the noun
and youll almost always be correct.
Two exceptions: Effect can be a verb that means to
bring about, as in to effect change. And affect can be a
noun that means emotional state or the outward
expression thereof, as in the psychological observation
that someone displays a flat affect.
ages
Always use figures. Compound modifiers require
hyphens: A 8yearold girl, a 8yearold, she is 8 years old.
booktitles
See COMPOSITION TITLES.
boysandgirls
Use boys and girls to designate teams. Do not use an
apostrophe: the team does not belong to the boys or to
the girls, but to the school. In most cases, boys or girls is
used as part of a noun phrase: The girls varsity soccer
team beat South High School. The boys cross country team
placed fifth in state competition.
boyfriend
One word.
brackets
Use parentheses instead to show words inserted into a
quote. However, usually, its better to rewrite the direct
quote into an indirect one to avoid awkwardness.
bulleteditems
Its two words. Not alot. (However, this expression is

vague and is best avoided.)
Introduced with a colon. Begin with a capital letter and

end with a period (not a semicolon), even if they arent
complete sentences. Do not use an and to complete the
list.
allright
bylines
alot
Not alright.
a.m.,p.m.
Lowercase, with periods.
AndthenIsaid
And and but are just as eligible as any other words to
start a sentence. And they often work well to provide
continuity or a transition. But I was taught never to do
this, you might say. Well, you were taught wrong.
and/or
Just use or whenever possible.
Capitalize the By and do not use punctuation marks, such

as a colon. In a double byline, use an ampersand &
instead of and. If a reporter and editor write together,
the second byline is reporters. Make sure to include the
plural s. If both are editors of any level, use editors. Do
not include a blank line between the byline and the lede.
Bush,PresidentGeorgeW.
The former Presidents name is George W. Bush. He is
not a junior. His fathers name is President George H.W.
Bush. Note, the position of President of the United States
is always capitalized out of respect.
anytime
One word.
app
Acceptable abbreviation for application.
calendaritems
assistantprincipal
babysit,babysitting,babysat,babysitter
In announcing events, identify the event and then the

details in this order: place, day, date, time, and cost:
Student Association members are sponsoring a dance in
the gym on Friday, Oct. 13, 7 p.m., $7 tickets.
black
In a list:
Lowercase. If the adjective is necessary, ask the person

whether they prefer African American.
BoardofEducation
cannot
Not vice. Never abbreviate.
Use and capitalize School Board when referring to the

Grosse Pointe Board of Education. Listing Grosse Pointe
is not usually necessary.
Friday, Oct. 13 Student Association dance in the

gym, 7 p.m., $7 tickets
CAPITALIZATION:Avoidunnecessarycapitalletters
Generally, only capitalize formal titles used before an
individuals name.
Principal Tim Bearden
Set titles off with commas and lowercase after a name:

Tim Bearden, principal
It is best to place a long title after a name.
commas
See the CSPA STYLEBOOK for a detailed explanation of
proper comma use.
A formal title is one that shows a position of authority or

accomplishment. Other informal titles serve as
occupational descriptions.
Social studies teacher Brian Degnore; coach Brian

Stackpool
It is often best to place a title more than two words after

a name.
Terri Steimer, social studies department chair, said
Capitalize the name of specific governing bodies such as

Student Association and Board of Education. Do not
capitalize general names like school board or committee.
Use a comma to separate a direct quotation from the

sentence.
"This class is awesome," said senior Kristin

Carlson.
Libby Sumnik, sophomore, said, "I love lady bugs."
The optional comma is not used in journalism.
I have red, green and blue crayons.
COMPOSITIONTITLES:Useitalics.
Titles are in italics; names are in regular text.
Newspapers and magazines have names, while movies,
books and TV shows have titles.
Capitalize specific courses, not but subject areas.

Generally, use the informal name for courses. Honors
Freshmen English, but science class. Do not capitalize
departments.
Capitalize the first word of any title. Capitalize all

words that are four letters are longer. Do not
capitalize the articles a, an and the. Do not
capitalize conjunctions or prepositions, unless they
are four letters or longer.
Capitalize the word room when used with a number:

Room B302. Use a hyphen for North rooms.
Gone With the Wind (with is a preposition, but it

is capitalized because of the fourletter rule).
Newspapers and magazines: Do not italicize or use

double quote marks around the names of
newspapers or magazines: North Pointe, The
Academy Times, Newsweek, The Oregonian,
Willamette Week.
Subtitles: Article headlines and song titles are in

quotation marks.
Do not capitalize a.m. or p.m. Include the periods.
captain
Lowercase and spell out in such uses as team captain
Steve Yzerman.
cellphone
One word.
chair
Lowercase for the head of departments.
chapters
Capitalize when used with a number in reference to a
section of a book. Always use numberals. Chapter 1.
compoundmodifiers
When two or more adjectives express a single concept,
use a hyphen to link the words. The 12member team, the
36yearold teacher.
courtesytitles
Generally, when quoting an elementary school student,

identify them by first name only, grade and school.
Mr., Mrs., Miss or Ms. should not be used, unless it is in a

direct quote: Quiz Bowl captain Trevor Duncan won first
at nationals. Duncan said, We couldnt have done it
without Mr. Byrne.
classes
coursetitles.
children
Capitalize official class names, but lowercase when used

to identify individuals. junior, junior class, senior Andy
Klingensmith, Class of 2014.
Lowercase.
DH
coach
Do not capitalize.
colleges
Do not abbreviate. Michigan State University, University
of Michigan
colon
In body text, the first word after a colon is capitalized
only if it begins a complete sentence. In headlines, the
first word after a colon is always capitalized.
dash
Use dashes to denote an abrupt change in thought in a

sentence or an emphatic pause: Obama offered a plan
it was unprecedented to raise taxes. Note the space
before and after the dash.
dates
Keep the date of the publication in mind when writing
for newspaper readers. Today is the date of the

publication. Be careful not to write in future tense when
the readers will be seeing your story after the event.
Always specify both the day and the date, as in

Tuesday, March 15.
Do not use on before a date.
Do no not use st, nd, rd, th in a date.
daysoftheweek
Always spell out in body text. Monday, not Mon.
departments
Use lowercase except for words that are proper nouns or
adjectives: the social studies department, the English
department.
different
The word different is often redundant, as in several
different options or many different participants. Since
you can't have several of the same option or many of the
same participant, several options and many
participants will do nicely.
districts
Lowercase in sports stories.
dollardollars
Beware of the use of a dollar sign and the word dollars
with the same amount, as in $100 dollars.
editor
Capitalize as an official title but not as a job description.
North Pointe Editor Sammy Scoggin, said editor Rachel
Premack.
editorinchief
The North Pointe usually calls the top editor just editor.
effect
See AFFECT.
ellipse
Three periods with a space before and after shows that
words have been omitted from a quotation. Seldom
needed at the beginning or end of a sentence.
email
One word. Theres a difference however between email
and an email address. So, when someone asks, Can I
have your email, tell them no, but you can have my e
mail address.
falsetitles
Never capitalize false titles which describe a persons
occupation or skill without reflecting on their authority:
politician, teacher, soprano soloist, pitcher, guard.
Do not use false titles before a persons name as in

goaltender Emma Huellmantel. Instead, set the name
off from the description with commas: Emma
Huellmantel, goaltender.
freshman,freshmen
Do not pluralize freshman as an adjective. Its freshman
girls, not freshmen girls, just as its sophomore boys, not
sophomores boys. Use freshmen as a plural noun: The
freshmen elected a new president.
Formoreinformation,call5551234.
Dont make the sentence complicated. Be concise.
fundraiser
One word.
girlfriend
One word.
girls
Use boys and girls to designate teams. Do not use an
apostrophe: the team does not belong to the boys or to
the girls, but to the school. In most cases, boys or girls is
used as part of a noun phrase: The girls varsity soccer
team beat South High School. The boys cross country team
placed fifth in state competition.
GPA
Acceptable in all references for gradepoint average.
grades
Use Aminus, Cplus, etc. (not A, C+) when mentioning
letter grades in text. In headlines its ok to abbreviate.
Use an apostrophe with plurals of single letters,
otherwise As will look like the word As.
GrossePointePublicSchoolSystem
Can you think of any reason you would need to write the
full name? Neither can I. Use the district or the school
system.
headlines
Write in present tense.
his/her
Rewrite sentences into the plural form
Weak: A student can register for his or her classes

online.
Better: Students can register for their classes

online.
Homecoming
Capitalize as a proper noun. Are you going to
Homecoming? Lowercase as an adjective. I have to find
the perfect homecoming dress.
IN
IDENTIFICATION:Fullyidentifyallsources
On first reference, identify a person by title, class or
position: Principal Tim Bearden, history teacher Patrick
Hicks, sophomore Maria Liddane.
Avoid use of double identification in a story,

especially in sports: guard Maria Liddane (not
sophomore guard Maria Liddane), English
teacher and Harbinger adviser Geoffrey Young.
When it is necessary to mention people with the
same last names in the same story, distinguish
between the two by using full names
throughout, unless the type of story calls for
firstname treatment, such as a feature story
about twins.
Internet
MP3
NorthHighSchool
Why are you putting the name of the school into your
story or headline? Readers know where they are. You
wouldnt write United States President Barack Obama,
would you? If you must use something for clarity, just
use North, not North High School.
NUMBERS:Spelloutsingledigitnumbers
Spell out singledigit numbers, including fractions. The
exceptions to this rule are:
Capitalize the proper noun.
Addresses: 7 Maple St.
Ages: Always use figures. The 2yearold cried.
Cents: 5 cents.
Dollars: $5, $2.6 million
Dates: April 2. Do not use d, rd, st, nd.
juniorvarsity
Dimensions: She is 6 feet tall.
Capitalize and do not use periods when abbreviated as a

modifier. Shes a member of the junior varsity, or, shes a
member of the JV team.
Grades: Single letters get an s and an apostrophe.

She gets all As.
Millions, billions: 3 billion people
Ordinal numbers: Spell out first through ninth. Use

figures for 10th and above. Do not use superscript.
Do not use Lady as in Lady Norsemen, or Norsewomen.

Everyone is a Norseman.
Pages: Use figures and capitalize. Page 2.
Percentages: 5%
lifeskills
Plural forms: Numbers like 3s get the s but no

apostrophe. (The same rule applies to decades: The
1960s.) Single letters like Bs get the s and an
apostrophe. Multiple letters like ABCs get the s but
no apostrophe.
Sentences: Spell out numbers at the beginning of a

sentence.
How do you instruct someone to go to a Web site?

There you have it! Go to works just fine. Visit and
check out also present no difficulty.
URLs: Put them in parentheses if needed to improve
the flow of a sentence.
kids
Use students instead.
lady
One word
limousine
Not limo.
magazinenames
masthead
The box in the newspaper, usually found on the editorial
(ideas) page, that lists the editors. The flag or nameplate
is the strip with the logo on the top of page one.
MomandDad
Capitalize such terms when theyre used as substituted
names: Mom and Dad wouldnt let me stay up late.
Lowercase other usages: Jennas mom and Jeremys dad
took us all to the movies.
Exception to the exception years. 1968 was

one of the worst years in American history.
Sports scores: Always use figures. Place a hyphen

and no spaces between scores.
Temperatures: 3 degrees
Time: 8 a.m. (not 8:00 a.m.)
months
See ABBREVIATIONS.
Zeros: Do not use unnecessary zeros. Examples:

Write seven cents rather than $.07. Write 10
a.m. instead of 10:00 a.m.
OR
money
Use figures for money. $7. Avoid unnecessary zeros.
$7.00. Watch for the redundant $7 dollars. Spell out
cents, as in 50 cents.
online
movietitles
One word, lowercased.
OK
Not okay.
pagenumbers
PowerPoint
Use figures and capitalize the word page when its used
with a number: Page 5.
This is a brand name and is spelled as listed.
parentheses
Use parentheses to show words inserted into a quote.
However, usually, its better to rewrite the direct quote
into an indirect one to avoid awkwardness.
Capitalize as a proper noun. Are you going to Prom?

Lowercase as an adjective. I have to find the perfect prom
dress. Do not write Senior Prom as North only has one
Prom nowadays.
percent
PUNCTUATION:Choosewhatsoundsbestoutloud
The symbol % is acceptable in all uses.

Abbreviations: Use a period after most
abbreviations (also see ABBREVIATIONS): B.A., M.A.,
Ph.D., Jr., the Rev., Feb. 2, 3001 N.E. 31st Ave., c.o.d.,
f.o.b., a.m., p.m.
Punctuation helps a reader understand the story, and

consists mainly of stop, pause and go signals. The
standard rules of punctuation learned in English classes
are also generally applicable in newspaper writing.
There is usually more than one proper way to punctuate
a sentence; therefore, choose what will work best for
readers, and follow the styleguide.
QUOTATIONS:Getitexactlyright,ordontquoteit.
periods
Acronyms and organizations: Do not use a

period after initials of commonly accepted or
widely known organizations, buildings,
activities, etc.: FBI, PTO.
Prom
Capitalize the first letter of the first word in a quotation

that stands as a sentence.
Use periods after U.S. and U.N. (Remember that

U.S. and U.N. are only abbreviated when used as
adjectives.)
Never change a quotation to correct someone's

grammar. For example, if you're interviewing someone
who says, I aint got no problem with them there
neighbors, you may write:
Use periods for a.m. and p.m.
Ellipsis: Three periods are used to form an

ellipsis, which indicates omission of words.
Treat it as a threeletter word, with spaces on
both sides and no space between the periods
within the ellipsis: Webster defines ellipsis as
the omission of one or more words necessary
to make the expression grammatically
complete.
When words are deleted from the end of a

complete sentence, the original period is kept in
addition to the ellipsis: Webster defines ellipsis.
Parentheses: Put a period inside parentheses
when a complete sentence is enclosed in
brackets or parentheses: (The day was too hot
for baseball.)
When the parenthetical expression forms only
part of the sentence, put the period outside the
bracket or parenthesis: The day was too cold for
football (or skiing).
Quotes: A period always goes inside quotation
marks. Other punctuation marks go inside when
they are part of the quoted material: I saw the
play, he said. He said, I saw the play. Did you
see the play? he asked. Should I see King
Lear?
physicaleducation
Do not abbreviate.
p.m.
Lowercase with periods between letters.
I ain't got no problem with them there neighbors,

he said.
And you may write:
He said he has no problem with his neighbors.
And, while it looks odd, you could write:
I got not problem with ... (the) neighbors, he

said.
But you may not write:
I have no problem with the neighbors, he said.
That would be lying. He did not say that.
QUOTATIONS:Punctuationstyle.
Use one of the following styles.
Physical education teacher Mark Ciaravino said

that all students would be allowed to play
basketball.
Identify people by their full name and title on the first

reference in a story. On the second reference, use only
their last name.
Jenn Cusmano, senior, said journalism is her favorite

class.
Journalism is the best, Cusmano said.
Place endofsentence punctuation marks within the

quotation marks when they apply only to the quoted
matter. Place them outside when they do not.
Steve asked, What is for lunch?

Jenny said, No way!
What is the meaning of the term circumference?
Identify the source at the end of the first sentence, in the

middle of the paragraph. For example:
When asked: Do not write when asked. Simply

say what the speaker said.
Put the word said after the subjects name.
The University of Nebraska is amazing, Adwers

said. I mean who couldnt love such a great school?
Smith said. Not said Smith. (Unless its on

purpose to improve flow of sentence.)
When the speaker or subject matter changes, start a new

paragraph.
Many people start their quotes with I think.

Delete it and start with the rest of the sentence.
Dont bury the attribution in a multisentence quote.

Wheredoestheperiodgo?
In American English, the period always goes inside the
quotation mark. Why? It just does.
Correct: We saw Spider Man II.
However, in British English, the period isnt part of the

title. Why? They just do.
Correct, in England: We saw Spider Man II.
QUOTATIONMARKS
reviews
The review should be in present tense if it's an album or
movie, for example, because those still exist even after
the review is published: Guitarist Bill Smith is at his best
... The review should be in past tense if its a concert or
something that no longer exists once the review is
printed: R.E.M. did not sound up to par at this show.
roomnumbers
Use a capital letter and a dash. Capitalize the word room
when used with a number: Room B127.
Double quote marks are used to enclose direct

quotations.
said
Irony and slang: Double quote marks are used to set

off slang expressions or words that are used with a
meaning other than the usual one.
SchoolBoard
Nicknames: Double quote marks are used to set off

nicknames.
schoolnames:
Single quotation marks are often used in error. They are

needed when:
Quote within a quote: Single quote marks are used

for a quotation within a quotation.
In headlines: Single quote marks are used in
headlines to save space.
Running quotations: When one quotation is broken into

paragraphs, each new paragraph starts with quotation
marks. Only the final paragraph (or quoted statement)
ends with quotation marks:
Jones said, I doubt any of this will come out in the

hearings.
Usually these things are covered up by the senators.

Its a shame, but its true, he said.
Paragraphs: Quotations should begin a new paragraph.

Otherwise, the quotation may become buried in a long
paragraph. It is almost always better to begin with a
quotation instead of the credit line.
Math teacher Brad Armbruster said, Students should

always do their homework.
It is important to be on time for class, he said.
Morequotetips
Quote goes before attribution, unless different
person has just been quoted.
Dont use any word for said without a strong reason.

Capitalize when referring to the Grosse Pointe Board of
Education. Listing Grosse Pointe is not usually necessary.
Spell out. South High School, not South, University of
Michigan, not U of M. North: Just North. However,
usually its not necessary to write North in a story. Its
implied that all North Pointe stories are about North
unless the story says otherwise.
seasons
Lowercase: winter, spring, summer and fall.
singlequotes
In American English, single quotation marks have only
two roles: One, theyre used when a quotation occurs
within another quotation; two, theyre used in
newspapers, as a matter of typographical style, in
headlines and other headings. Some writers seem to
think minor quoted matter, such as nicknames, is not
worthy of a full quote and thus gets single quotes, but
they are mistaken.
sportsterms
See the AP STYLEBOOK for sports term style.
states
Lowercase in sports stories.
statenames
See ABBREVIATIONS.
TZ
teachers,faculty,staff
Teachers are part of the faculty, which includes
administrators and counselors. Staff includes everyone
who is paid to work at North.
Also correct: The Senior Class president, Danny

Schrage, will speak. (President is used as a
description, and the presidents name is n
apposition that is, set off with a comma.
Incorrect: The Senior Class President, Danny

Schrage, will speak. (Lowercase the p.)
Incorrect: Senior Class President, Danny Schrage, will

speak. (Dropping the the sets up the correctly
capitalized title. But then the sentence goes and does
the apposition thing. For apposition to work
correctly, the sentence must make sense without the
material between the commas. Student Council
President will speak does not make sense, unless its
a headline.)
Incorrect: Senior Class President, Danny Schrage

will speak. (The apposition requires two commas.)
teamnames
Do not capitalize team designations: The varsity team,
basketball team, soccer team.
Tshirt
Capital t.
time
Use periods with a.m. and p.m. Avoid unnecessary zeros,
such as 3:00 p.m.
AP style is 9 a.m.4:30 p.m.
a.m., p.m. Lowercase with periods between letters.
When a time falls on the hour, omit the zeros. Follow

it with a.m. or p.m. Time precedes day.
tuxedo
Not tux.
UnitedStates
The abbreviation U.S. is acceptable in all uses.
URLs
Wrong: The game begins Friday evening at 8:00

p.m.
Right: The game begins at 8 p.m. Friday.
Web sites have names. Use it. Its usually listed in the
blue bar at the top of the navigator window. Omit the
http://.
Right: The game begins at 8 p.m. Friday, Feb. 15.
Incorrect: Go to http://www.freep.com/.
TITLES(ofpeople):Telluswhothesepeopleare
Correct: Go to the Detroit Free Press (freep.com).
Titles before a name: Formal titles of three words of less

usually go before names and are capitalized. There is no
comma between the title and the name.
Valhalla
Since references are generally made to the book rather
than the organization, use italics: Valhalla.
On first reference of students, use the class and the full

name. Next reference, just last name.
videogame
voicemail
I love ice cream, junior Gabby Burchett said.
Titles after a name: Formal titles are lowercased if you

choose to place them after the name.
Rick Snyder, Michigan governor, said, I will fight for

the people.
Occupational titles: Occupational titles are descriptive

of what a person does, but are not formal. custodian,
secretary, student, pitcher. See also FALSE TITLES.
It is often best to place a title more than two words after
a name.
Terri Steimer, social studies department chair, said

Two words.
website
One word. The Web is a proper noun and is capitalized.
will
Put away the crystal ball and stop calling Miss Cleo on
the North Pointe phone. Write what you know.
Incorrect: The Student Association elections will be on

May 11.
Correct: The Student Association elections are

scheduled for May 11.
Do not use courtesy titles (Mr. Mrs.)

commas in titles
Correct: Senior Class President Danny Schrage will
speak. (President is used as a title.)
NORTHPOINTEMINISTYLEGUIDE
ABBREVIATIONS:Avoidabbreviations.
o Use:AP,ACT,SAT
o Dontuse:PE,GPN,GPPS,SA
o Whenyouplantouseanabbreviationlaterin
thestory,donotfollowthenameofgroup
withtheabbreviationinparentheses.
o days:Donotabbreviate.
o months:Abbreviatewithsixormorelettersif
theyareusedwithaspecificdates.Spellout
thosewithfiveorfewerletters.Aug.13,June
6.Alwaysspelloutamonthwhenitisused
withoutaspecificdate.Theseasonstartsin
September.
o organizationnames:Avoidabbreviationsor
acronymsunlessthegroupiswidelyknown.
ACT,SADD.Forlesserknowngroups,spellit
out.Thenuseatermlikethegroup.
CAPITALIZATIONANDTITLES:Avoid
capitalizationunlesstheresareason.
o titlesofpeople:Capitalizeonewordformal
titlesbeforeaname.
Forlongertitles,lowercasethemandset
themoffwithcommasafteraname.Byrne,
StudentAssociationadviser,said,The
dancewillbeFriday.
Exception:CapitalizeAssistantPrincipal
whenusedbeforeaname.
o Donotcapitalize:
namesofclasses:freshmanclass(butdo
capitalizeClassof2012)
namesofschoolsubjectsunlessitisthe
officialcoursetitleorthenameofalan
guage.Examples:math,AlgebraI,science,
FilmLiterature.
varsity,footballteam,varsitysoccerteam
districtorregionalwhenreferringtosports
a.m.andp.m.
titlesthatareonlyjobdescriptions:teacher,
coach,student,chair
socialstudiesteacherPatrickHicks
sophomoreCarolineSchulte
EmmaHuellmantel,seniorgoalie
INTERNETISSUES
o Internet,website,online,email,login
o HowdoyouinstructsomeonetogotoaWeb
site?Gotoworksjustfine.Visitandcheck
outalsopresentnodifficulty.
o URLs:Usethenameofthesiteinthetext.Put
theURLinparenthesesifneededtoimprove
theflowofasentence.Dontusethehttp://.
Formoreinformation,gototheAmerican
CancerSocietywebsite(www.cancer.org).
NUMBERS:Spelloutsingledigitnumbersand
usefiguresforlargernumbers.
o Theywillplaysixgamesinthenext21days.
o Donotuseunnecessaryzeros:10cents,not
$.10.10a.m.,not10:00a.m.
o Usefiguresforhoursofday,ages,sumsof
money,streetnumbers,percents,dates,votes
andscores.
o Neverused,rd,st,ndwithdates.
o Pluralnumbersdonotgetanapostrophe.The
1960swereatroubledtime.
o Singlelettersdogetanapostrophe.
IhopeIgetallAsonmyreportcard.

o Numberexceptions:
Spelloutthenumberwhenitbeginsa
sentence.Exceptiontotheexception:Use
digitsforyears.
Fiftytwoseniorswerechosenforthe
award.1776wasamemorableyear.
Alwaysusedigitsfor:
Addresses.5MapleSt.
Ages.Heis2yearsold.
Dollars.Pizzais$1,pop50cents.
Dates.Feb.14
Percentages.Iscoredan8%.
Times.Schoolstartsat8a.m.
OBJECTIVEWRITING:Usethirdpersonvoice.
o Donotusethefirstorsecondperson
pronouns,exceptinaquote.I,Ill,me,my,you,
your,youre,us,we,were,ours,our.
Eveninacolumn/review,thesewordsare
seldomneeded.Askforhelpinrewording.
o Definitions
Story:Objectivelywritteninthirdperson.
Viewpoint/column:Theauthorsopinion,
usuallywritteninthirdperson.
Editorial:Theofficialpositionoftheeditors.
Almostalwayswritteninthirdpersonvoice.
QUOTATIONS:Simpleformat,mustbeused
o Almostalwaysusesaid.
o Usuallyputthenamefirstusingactivevoice
(writeinsubject,verb,object).Cusmanosaid,
notsaidCusmano.(Startwiththehorse.)
Poor:thegamewinningbasketwasscored
byMariaLiddane.
Better:MariaLiddanescoredthegame
winningbasket.
o Aquoteisusuallyanewparagraph.
o Useoneofthefollowingstylesfordirect
quotes.Notethecommasettingoffthequote
andthecapitalletteratthebeginningofthe
quote.Endingpunctuationgoesinsidethe
quotationmark.
ScienceteacherGaryAbudsaid,Students
shouldalwaysdotheirhomework.
Ilovecaterpillars,butnotbutterflies,
seniorTiaTsakossaid.
o Placetheattributionattheendofshortquotes
orinthemiddleoftwoormoresentences.
Therearemanywaystoconnecttwo
quotes,Scogginsaid.Oneofthebestisto
puttheattributioninthemiddle.
o Indirectquotesareacceptablewhenyouknow
whatthepersonsaid,buttheexactwordsare
notavailable.Noticetherearenoquotation
marks.
SeniorDannySchragesaidhehasmad
basketballskills.
o Donotalteraquotetocleanupsloppy
speakingornotetaking.Ifyoudonthavea
cleanquote,youcanuseanindirectquoteor
reaskthequestion.
o Placeendofsentencepunctuationmarks
withinthequotationmarkswhentheyapply
onlytothequotedmatter.Placethemoutside
whentheydonot.
Mikeasked,Whatisforlunch?
Whatisthemeaningoftheterm
circumference?
10/29/2015
COMMONSTYLEISSUES
o addresses:Abbreviateonlywithacomplete
address.Dontabbreviatethewordroad.707
VernierRoad,MackAvenue,123MackAve.
o adviser:notadvisor
o AssistantPrincipal:capitalize.Notvice.
o boysandgirls:Useboysandgirlstodesignate
teams.Donotuseanapostrophe:Theteam
doesnotbelongtotheboysortothegirls,but
totheschool.Inmostcases,boysorgirlsis
usedaspartofanounphrase:Thegirlsvarsity
soccerteambeatSouthHighSchool.Theboys
crosscountryteamplacedfifthinstate
competition.NeveruseLadyNorsemen.
o calendaritems:Inannouncingevents,identify
theeventandthenthedetailsinthisorder:
place,day,date,time,andcost.
StudentAssociationdance,inthegym,
Friday,Oct.13,7p.m.,tickets$7
o chair:Lowercasefortheheadofdepartments.
o cheerleading:Oneword.
o comma:Generally,moststudentsshoulduse
morecommasintheirwritingtoaddclarity.
Optionalcommasarenotusedinjournalism.
Ihavered,greenandbluecrayons.
o compoundmodifiers:Whentwoormore
adjectivesexpressasingleconcept,use
hyphenstolinkallthewordsinthecompound.
Fouryearcontract,12memberteam,15year
oldgirl,wellrespecteddeputyeditor
o ellipse:Dontoveruse.Threedotsproceeded
andfollowedbyaspaceshowswordshave
beenomitted.Forapause,useadashnotan
ellipse.
Neverstartorendaquotewithanellipse.
o grades:useinformaltitles:senior,freshman
o names:Onfirstreference,useafullnameand
title.Onsecondreference,onlythelastname.
o Pages:Usefiguresandcapitalizetheword
pagewhenitsusedwithanumber:Page5.
o parentheses:Useparentheseswhen
informationisaddedtoadirectquotefor
clarification(notbrackets).
o percent:%isacceptableinalluses.
o profanity:Donotuseitinthisclass.
o rooms:Capitalizewithanumber.Themeeting
isinthebandroom.ThemeetingisinRoomB
121.
o SchoolBoard:Useandcapitalizewhen
referringtotheGrossePointeBoardof
Education.GrossePointeisusuallynotneeded.
o schoolnames:Spellout.SouthHighSchool,
notSouth,UniversityofMichigan,notUofM.
North:JustNorth.However,usuallyitsnot
necessarytowriteNorthinastory.Its
impliedthatallNorthPointestoriesare
aboutNorthunlessthestorysaysotherwise.
o sportsscores:Alwaysusefigures.Placea
hyphenandnospacesbetweenscores.
o subjects:Lowercase,exceptlanguages.science
teacher,Englishdepartment.
o time:periodsandlowercasewitha.m./p.m.
o titlesofcompositions:Useitalicsforthetitles
ofbooks,music,moviesandmostothertitles.

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GrossePointeNorthHighSchool

ABOUT THE NORTH POINTE

Grosse Pointe North High School

The North Pointe is published biweekly, 16 times per year.

Shari Adwers (sadwers@gmail.com or shari.adwers@gpschools.org)

Never be in the journalism room when

The Standards of North Pointe

The journalism room is not a student lounge.

Empty your mailbox daily. Mailboxes are for

5th RULE: Gripes go up, not down. Always up.

Do not leave items lying around the room.

6th RULE: No friends, no family. (The living

Computers are for journalism students and

7th RULE: Revisions will go on as long as they

Music must always be schoolappropriate and

Do not leave items in the refrigerator more

8th RULE: Be proactive and dont trust

Do not post decorations/signs in the room

You need to have your school ID badge with a

We occasionally will ask to take a photo at the

4th RULE: Keep it real.

9th RULE: Hold your criticism for 24 hours.

ETHICS PLEDGE FOR NORTH POINTE STAFF

Plagiarism: I will never submit plagiarized material. Examples:

I will ask questions of my adviser and editor when issues arise.

SCHOOL BOARD POLICY

medium. Two types of media are generally considered

Media that are produced as part of a course

Media that are produced in a program outside

Content in these media may reflect areas of student

Is obscene as to minors according to current

Is libelous according to current legal definition;

Creates a material or substantial disruption of

Is an invasion of privacy according to current

Advertises drugs, drug paraphernalia, liquor,

Erroneously attributes the views of the writer to

As a matter of routine, the principal or designated

designated assistant principal shall be guided by the

Is obscene as to minors according to current

Is libelous according to current legal definition;

Creates a material or substantial disruption of

Is an invasion of privacy according to current

Advertises drugs, drug paraphernalia, liquor,

Erroneously attributes the views of the writer to

If the adviser acts to remove an article or item or to

If the student remains dissatisfied with the decision of

The North Pointe may publish advertisements from

Advertisers will be sent an invoice at the end of each

Advertising placed by individuals must be paid in

New business clients with contracts of $100 or more

Advertisers agree to give 30 days notice of the

The North Pointe may cancel contracted advertising

All newspapers are businesses, even the North Pointe

1,800 copies of the North Pointe are printed and

All advertising must conform to North Pointe

The North Pointe Editorial Board will refuse any

Advertorials or other advertisements made to

Advertising inserts are not accepted.

Political advertising for school campaigns is not

A reporter should not cover an event put on or

Submissions & Deadlines

Advertising sale deadlines are two weeks prior to