Social Media Guidelines

Apply the concept of informed consent in deciding what to post on social media. A journalist would not quote a source without notification, and the same rules apply to social media.

Students should notify and properly identify sources they plan to mention or
quote on social media sites, including Facebook and Twitter – if what was said
was not in a public setting. In most cases, what happens in the classroom is not a public setting. Be sure you have permission of your classmates, your teacher or a guest speaker if you plan to mention or quote them on social media or on any publishing platform.

Also, social media sites, such as Facebook or Twitter, should not be used to harass or denigrate your classmates or teachers. Using offensive language or racial slurs is not acceptable and could result in disciplinary action. As journalists, we value freedom of speech but we also abide by ethical standards. Consider how you apply those standards especially if that person is not a public figure.

Also bear in mind that almost anything you publish on Twitter, Facebook, a blog or online is in the public view. A majority of employers do a search before they consider you for a job or internship, so be sure that you abide by professional journalism standards.