Student media outlets throughout the nation are currently developing their own policies on the coverage of international students and anonymous sources in response to an alert from journalism advisory organizations.
The alert warned student media outlets to “revisit their policies on takedown requests and anonymous sources, particularly for those whose immigration status may make them targets for their lawful speech.”
The Northern Star’s loyalty is to the people and their protection. Our policy will not change on how we cover international and undocumented students. When asking a student for an interview, we will not publish their name in written or visual content unless we have their explicit consent.
The Northern Star does publish anonymous sources, though only in extreme circumstances. A source will only be anonymous when their identity is at risk from an extreme threat in order to avoid reducing the news and humanistic value of a story. An extreme threat in this case is classified as someone who is at a high risk of targeted violence or harm.
Under the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution, journalists hold the right to publish any photographs taken in a public sphere. However, we are not required to collect the names of individuals pictured in the photo.
The Northern Star adheres closely to this premise and acknowledges the importance of minimizing harm when applicable. We will avoid publishing any identifiable information that could put international students, faculty or community members in jeopardy,
“Journalists should: Balance the public’s need for information against potential harm or discomfort,” the Society of Professional Journalists Code of Ethics reads. “Pursuit of the news is not a license for arrogance or undue intrusiveness.”
The Northern Star covers protests held in the DeKalb area because of the significance they have on student voices and their impact on the university. As a media outlet, the Northern Star acts as a watchdog, ready to spread awareness and promote transparency through covering protests.
The Northern Star is committed to minimizing harm to international students and will do so by limiting the publication of potentially harmful information in order to provide a safeguard for NIU’s international students and faculty.
When covering protests centered around international students, the Northern Star will do all it can to avoid publishing any photos that show closeups of faces, for fear that an international student or faculty member may be pictured and put at risk. Those featured in identifiable photos will have given their explicit permission for us to post the photo.
“Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances,” the First Amendment reads.
The First Amendment of the Constitution guarantees the freedom of speech for all, and if the government starts to take away visas for practicing that freedom, the Northern Star will proceed cautiously and remain true to both journalistic integrity and the Constitution.
