Bylaws

The Jackson-Reed Beacon Bylaws

I. Introduction

1. What is the Beacon?

 

The Beacon is published monthly by students of Jackson-Reed High School, 3950

Chesapeake St. N.W., Washington D.C., 20016. Unsigned editorials and cartoons are the views of the staff; personal commentaries reflect the opinions of the writers. Our mission is to provide an accurate representation of the diverse views, opinions, and concerns of the students of Jackson-Reed High School. We aim to serve as the voice of the students. Through responsible, ethical journalistic practices, we strive to provide thorough, reliable news coverage of issues relevant to Jackson-Reed. Advertising and subscription rates are available by emailing beaconchiefeditor@gmail.com. The Beacon welcomes all student and guest contributions: articles, photographs, art, commentary, and letters to the editor. All submissions can be sent to beaconchiefeditor@gmail.com and become the property of The Beacon. The Beacon is a public forum created for the purpose of expressing the views of and providing information to the Jackson-Reed student body.

Thank you for reading The Beacon.

 

1. Mission

 

Our mission is to provide an accurate representation of the diverse views, opinions, and concerns of the students of Jackson-Reed High School. We aim to serve as the voice of the students. Through responsible, ethical journalistic practices, we strive to provide thorough, reliable news coverage of issues relevant to Jackson-Reed. The Beacon welcomes all student and guest contributions as it is a public forum created for the purpose of expressing the views of and providing information to the Jackson-Reed student body.

1. Overview

The Beacon covers news relevant to the student body. The print paper includes News, Opinions, Features, Spread, Sports, Spanish, and Style sections. The website will include the same sections with exclusive web content. Exclusive web content will generally be shorter than print content and will include breaking news and interactive, eye-catching features such as polls, videos, and slideshows.  

 

II. Staff Structure and Roles

HEAD OF STAFF

Editors-in-Chief

NOA GORDON

ALICE PATTERSON

Managing Editors

CLARA DOYLE
JAVIER THOMPSON

Directors of New Staff

SARAH ROSE WIESENFELDER

KALPANA SHIPLER

VISUALS STAFF 

Directors of Art and Design

beaconvisuals@gmail.com

DESMOND PARSONS

CARYS GRAY

Assistant Director: Clare Bates

 

WEBSITE STAFF 

Web Executive Editor 

LOLA PEARLMAN-CHANG 

Multimedia Editor

NATALIA WEINSTEIN

EDITORIAL STAFF 

Written Content Editors 

SONJA BOSER

ESME NOORUDDIN

MEREDITH PAGE

PEYTON SHUM

News Editors 

RILEY MACCLELLAN

JORDANA SLOANE

Opinions Editors 

GRETA BRADLEY-MEAL

EVA SOLOMON

Features Editors 

JESSICA MCCALLUM

CAROLINE REILLY

Spread Editors 

MARIA JOYCE-JOHNSON

DANIEL RAVIV

Spanish Editors 

EMELY MEJIA

DANI ORTIZ DE PRADO 

Sports Editors 

SAM BIGGE

GRACE HARSCHEID

Style Editors 

PADGET BOWERS-SHREVE

WILLA FRILLICI

 

Games Editor 

BEN HOLLAND 

Section Copy Editors 

Cecelia Grant, Tessa Frantz, Cole Anderson

Junior Editors 

Georgie Ley, Andrew Dellabella, Avani Patel, Nati Pinilla, Patrick Hutchins, James Folkes, Alex Possner-Greene, Sam Bensky, Isabella Mara, Idan Kumin, Nora Goldwasser, Affomia Debebe, Francisco Blancato, Alex Oh, Landon Green, Kate Walter

Editors-in-Chief: The Editor-in-Chief is responsible for ensuring that The Beacon is a well-run, highly functioning student organization that produces a high-quality publication representing the voice of the student body. They are responsible for writing and overseeing the entire paper and all content that represents the student body, broader issues, and current events. They must communicate effectively with the entire staff and advisors to ensure all parts of each issue of the paper come together well and on time.  The Editors-in-Chief represent the Beacon to the school community, meaning they make important decisions and are entrusted with taking accountability for any issues and mistakes that arise. Before each edition is printed, the Chiefs must read through and edit the entire paper. They have final say in any decisions regarding the paper. 

 

Managing Editors: The Managing Editor manages the drive folders which include making section groups, creating a calendar for each month, and creating powerpoints for meetings. They run all interest meetings and full staff meetings. Additionally, they are in charge of communicating dates for production, staff/interest meetings, and any important reminders. They are in charge of planning and running monthly productions, making sure the Beacon is ready for the final look-through. The Managing Editors oversee the Beacon’s finances, printing of the paper, and must communicate with the printers. They also manage senior ads, subscriptions, and send the paper out to subscribers. 

 

The Directors of New Staff: The Directors of New Staff are in charge of mentoring young writers and expanding The Beacon staff. They should lead contributor training for new writers at the start of each cycle and oversee one content production to work on headlines and captions a month for Written Content and Section Copy Editors. Additionally, they are responsible for recruiting new contributors and releasing the Junior Editor Application to any Contributor who has written three or more articles. They are also the point of contact for the contributors’ and junior editors’ needs and wants

 

The Directors of Art and Design: The Directors of Art and Design are in charge of laying out the paper, creating graphics, and overseeing other contributors. They must use InDesign and Photoshop to lay out paper and edit photos. They also lead the layout team and come up with ideas for visuals based on the budgets. They have to lead the visual production. 

 

Assistant Director of Art and Design: The Assistant Director of Art and Design aids the Directors of Art in Design by monitoring visuals, organizing the Dropbox, and being on call for any visual needs. In addition, they must attend all productions. 

 

Web Editor: The web editor must post all articles and PDFs of the paper onto Jackson-Reed Beacons’ website. They are also in charge of monitoring all web activity and comments, and should utilize all web design features to improve the website. 

 

Multimedia Editor: The multimedia editor plans and creates video content for the Beacon to be posted on various platforms. 

 

Written Content Editors: Written Content Editors must use the Beacon’s style guide to edit articles in their assigned section. They should look for grammar and stylistic edits. Additionally, during full staff production, they must put printout edits into the printout sheet. 

 

Section Editors: Section Editors should work collaboratively with their co-section Editors to come up with article ideas, help students sign up for articles, and edit articles for their respective section. They are responsible for all content in their sections and should attend full staff productions, interest meetings, and section editor production.

 

Section Copy Editors: Section Copy editors are responsible for thoroughly verifying and fact-checking all articles in their section during content production..

 

Junior Editors: All Junior Editors must come to content productions to create headlines and captions for their respective sections, as well as attend full-staff production. 

 

Contributors: Students may contribute articles, art, or photography. To apply to become a Junior Editor, a contributor has to have written at least 3 articles. 

 

III. Standards for Content

1. Editorial Independence and Ethics

The Beacon is a public forum created for the purpose of expressing the views of and providing information to the Jackson Reed student body. Our mission is to provide an accurate representation of the diverse views, opinions, and concerns of the students of Jackson Reed High School. Through responsible, ethical journalistic practices, we strive to provide thorough, reliable news coverage of events relevant to the JR community, including students, faculty, staff, parents, and members of the wider public. The Beacon Editorial Policy pertains to all Beacon media, including the print paper and website, jrbeacon.com. Online media produced by The Beacon are entitled to the same protections and subject to the same freedoms and responsibilities as media produced for print publication. Student journalists may use digital and social media to report news and information, to communicate with other students and individuals, to ask questions and consult experts,  and to locate material to meet their research needs. Because school officials do not engage in prior review, The Beacon staff assumes complete legal responsibility for all content published in the print paper or on the website. Beacon Media is protected by and bound to the principles of the First Amendment as well as other protections and limitations granted by the Constitution and the laws and court decisions implementing those principles. Students aim to report all coverage ethically as determined by the Society of Professional Journalists and the National Scholastic Press Association’s Code of Ethics.

The Beacon will not publish any material that is determined by the editorial staff to be vulgar, obscene, materially disruptive of the school process, an unwarranted invasion of privacy, a violation of copyright, or a promotion of products or services unlawful as to minors as defined by district or federal law. For definitions of such material, students will refer to the Student Press Law Center Model Guidelines for High School Student Media. 

All content is determined by the editorial staff, and final content decisions remain the responsibility of the senior staff. The staff advisors will not censor or determine content – unless it is deemed hate speech or illegal – but instead offer advice and instruction, following the Code of Ethics for Advisers established by the Journalism Education Association. Any student staff member seeking legal advice regarding proposed or published content should seek counsel from representatives of the Student Press Law Center or other individuals knowledgeable in media law.

1. Plagiarism

Plagiarism is using another person’s work, word-for-word or by paraphrasing, without giving credit to the source. Plagiarism can be, but is not limited to, fabricating or changing quotes, knowingly using copyrighted material, using Artificial Intelligence, or crediting anyone other than the source. Staff members or contributors found plagiarized will be asked to no longer contribute to the paper. If plagiarized material is printed in the paper, the Beacon will work with the parties involved to address the situation. Possible resolutions include being unable to write again for the Beacon or revocation of staff position. Reporters are not to include off-the-record information in their articles. 

1. Quoting & Sources

Sources may read their quotes upon request.  They may not read a full story before publication.  All Beacon interviewers will respect a source’s wish to remain “off the record” if the fact is known before the information is provided.

Reporters will endeavor to include the names of all sources, except when the editorial staff decides that doing so will put the source in legal, physical,  or emotional danger (ex, sexual assault victims, juveniles charged with a crime). Material from anonymous sources may be used only if a) the material is not speculation and is vital to the news report; b)  the information is not available except under conditions of anonymity imposed by the source; and c) the source is reliable and in a position to have accurate information. Reasons for anonymity must be given in the story. Reporters will not, within the boundaries of the law, reveal the identity of any source who asks to remain anonymous. Under DC law, reporters cannot be penalized for withholding the name of an anonymous source. 

1. Diversity & Representation

Reporters and photographers will work to ensure that sources and subjects for articles and subjects for photographs represent all parts of the Jackson Reed population. Diversity includes ethnicity, grade, gender, sexual orientation, and social group. The  Beacon should also make a conscious effort to recruit a diverse group of people to contribute to the paper each month. Staff members will go to all clubs and recruit more students for a diverse perspective.

1. Corrections & Transparency

Errors must be corrected promptly in the next issue and/or updated online. When major changes or controversies occur, The Beacon will publish an explanation of the correction or decision.

 

1. Photo and Visual Rights

All photos, graphics, and visual content created for The Beacon remain the property of the publication, even after a staff member graduates.

IV. Code of Conduct

1. All staff members are expected to behave professionally, treat peers respectfully, and contribute to a safe newsroom environment.

2. Harassment, discrimination, or behavior that disrupts staff operations will not be tolerated.

3. Violations may result in disciplinary action or dismissal from staff.

Staff dismissal can happen for one of two reasons: misconduct and failure to complete the responsibilities of their position. Misconduct includes but is not limited to: plagiarism, mistreatment of other staff members or advisors, vandalism or theft of equipment, inappropriate or unwarranted posts on the Beacon website or social media, or major school infractions. In the case of misconduct, staff dismissal will be the decision of the staff advisor,  and the staff advisor will notify the student and explain why they are being dismissed. In the case of failure to complete the responsibilities of a position (applies only to members of the editorial staff), the staff member will first receive a warning. Consistent failure to attend meetings and late nights, not turning in contributions without warning or explanation, failure to communicate with advisors and other staff members, or a bad attitude can warrant a warning. The warning will involve a conversation with the staff member, the Editor-In-Chiefs, the Managing Editors, and the staff advisor. If behavior continues without improvement, the Editor-In-Chief will offer the staff member the chance to step down, if the staff member declines the Editor-In-Chief will raise the issue to the editorial staff. Members of the editorial staff will have the option to have a say in any further action. The chief web editor will be  involved when a web position is in question. 

***If any members of the staff are having prob lems with another member of the staff, they should approach the managing editor, chief web editor,  editor-in-chief, or advisor (whoever they feel comfortable talking to). These people will be able to help address any problems and will not share any information if asked not to. 

 

1. Conflict Resolution

1. Senior staff and staff advisors will be made aware of the situation 
2. The Beacon pledges to fairly hear out all sides, perspectives, and opinions regarding the situation
3. Conflicts will be handled on a case-by-case basis, and the administration will get involved if the conflict escalates or affects the school

VI. Production Cycle

1. Before Interest Meetings

Senior Staff should meet with the entire staff each cycle. The managing editor needs to confirm dates and the location of the interest meeting. The Section editors should fill out the budget with article ideas and descriptions. Make sure you are covering all important news stories, and maybe consult Stefan or Ms.Belew on this. Managing Editors should send out reminders for all productions and meetings. Managing editors are responsible for reminding Section Editors to fill out the budget for the upcoming interest meeting.

 

1. Before the deadline

Before the deadline, staff and contributors should sign up for articles in the monthly budget. All section editors must reach out to the contributors of their section to inform and remind them of their article. In addition, throughout the writing process, Section Editors should check in with writers, making themselves available for support if needed.  

 

1. Print Deadline

Writers should turn in articles to their section editors and the Chiefs. Chiefs should check folders to make sure each section has articles; if not, check in with section editors.

 

1. Visuals Production

The visuals team gets three days for production to work on any visual aspects of the paper before full staff production.  During this, the visuals team starts laying out the paper, finishes designing spreads, gets photos/graphics, and edits photos/graphics. 

 

1. Front page meeting

Managing Editors and Editors in Chief must schedule a date to talk about the front page. Choosing articles for the front page requires lots of thinking. Choose stories that have information that students both need to know and want to know. Especially most important news stories and strong features/profiles.

 

1. Full Staff Production

Full Staff Production is planned and run by the Managing Editors. All aspects of the paper should be finalized and ready to send to Senior Staff for overflow. Headlines written and finalized, captions written and finalized, staff ed written or started, top 10 written, articles finalized, visuals and photos edited.

1. Overflow

Senior Staff should attend to make final edits to articles, visuals and layout to get it ready for print.

 

1. Pass out papers

A group of staff members should be positioned at the pool entrance and the main entrance, handing out papers to students and staff as they enter the building.

VII. Advertising & Finances

1. Advertisements
   • Ads must comply with legal and ethical standards (no obscenity, hate speech, or promotion of illegal products).

   • Current pricing guidelines must be set annually by the Managing Editors with advisor approval.

   • Ads must be clearly distinguished from editorial content.

2. Finances
   • The Managing Editors track finances, subscriptions, and ad payments.
   • Beacon revenue comes from subscriptions, Senior Ads, ads and sponsorships from local businesses, and PTSO funding. 
   • Yearly expenses generally come out to around $10,000 and our biggest financial goal is to avoid a deficit.
   • For reimbursements and requesting funds/payments, everything goes through the PTSO via check request forms to pay the printer and reimburse senior staff for any money spent on Beacon-related things. 
   • It is imperative that receipts are kept for all things that senior staff will need reimbursed.

VIII. Social Media & Technology

1. Social Media

Accounts must be used only for professional updates, school news, and promoting Beacon content. Posts should reflect the views of The Beacon, not individual editors. Staff are discouraged from posting on personal accounts in ways that compromise The Beacon’s reputation.

1. Technology Use
   
   • Staff are responsible for lost or damaged equipment.

IX. Staff Expectations & Eligibility

1. Staff must attend productions and meetings unless excused.
   • Managing editors will track attendance at each meeting & production 
   • If there is consistently poor attendance, there will be a warning and then a meeting with Senior Staff to discuss a process forward.

2. Consistent absences or missed deadlines may result in warnings or dismissal.
3. To be eligible for a junior editor position, contributors must: 
   • Have written at least 3 articles
   • Have written for at least 2 sections
4. To be eligible for editorial positions, staff must:
   • Complete the application provided by Senior Staff for their desired position 
   • Interview at their scheduled time
   • Mantain good standing with the Beacon, regularly attend events, and write articles every edition.

 

X. Staff Accountability

1. Dismissal
   • Grounds include plagiarism, misconduct, harassment, failure to complete responsibilities, or repeated unexcused absences.
   • For more serious and complex cases, they will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis with Senior Staff, the Staff advisor, and the school administration (if the situation involves the school)

2. Checks & Balances
   • Final editorial authority rests with the Editors-in-Chief, but decisions should be made collaboratively with senior staff.
   • Advisors may provide guidance but not censorship.

• Senior Staff can’t be kicked off staff unless there is a unanimous decision by the entire Beacon and sponsors.

XI. Transitions

1. Leadership Transition
   • Each January, applications for editorial positions open.

   • Applicants are evaluated through written applications and interviews.

   • Final decisions are made by the Senior Staff and the advisor.

2. Training:
   • Outgoing staff must train their successors through shadowing and written guides.

XII. Amendments to the Bylaws

1. Amendments may be proposed by any staff member.

2. Changes must be approved by a two-thirds majority of senior staff and the advisor.

3. Updated bylaws must be shared with the full staff