Media Handbook
The Lantern is the award-winning student newspaper at Ohio State. We are editorially independent of the university and the majority of our funding comes from advertisements and endowments, and we receive a small amount from the university to support our Lantern TV studio production.
To learn more about who we are and what we do, visit our About Us page.
The handbook is organized in three parts: (1) Governance, (2) Student Personnel and (3) Policies
Governance
Lantern Mission
The mission of the Lantern is to create and promote a critically important educational experience to students preparing for careers as independent and responsible multimedia journalists; to provide a source of news, opinion and advertising about and for the university community; and to offer that community a forum for the exercise of its freedom of expression.
The Lantern is committed to sharing its stories in the best possible format, be it in print or online, and to using the best journalistic methods and practices to tell its stories, through strong writing, compelling video, powerful photos and interactive graphics.
Autonomy of the Lantern
The School of Communication is committed to the highest professional standards for the Lantern to guarantee the fullest educational benefits from the classroom and newsroom experience. This commitment, however, does not include control of the Lantern’s content. The editor-in-chief has the authority to choose the material to be published, in print and online. The adviser and faculty of the School of Communication counsel the editors and staff in the ethics and responsibilities of journalism.
The adviser critiques and evaluates the Lantern and advises its staff; the adviser does not control content. The director, who has final authority over budgetary and personnel matters, does not interfere with editorial decisions. Neither the director nor the adviser censors content, though they may discuss content with Lantern staff members.
Faculty, whether instructors of Lantern practicum or not, have no authority to determine if or how the content should be used. Editors decide which stories are to be published. Faculty desiring space for special projects in the paper should contact the adviser and the editor-in-chief. The final decision rests with the editor-in-chief.
Publications Committee
This committee will include four faculty members (including an appointed chair) and the editor- in-chief of the Lantern. Three of the faculty members must be tenure or clinical track; they serve two-year terms. Two faculty members are elected; two are appointed. One faculty member can be a lecturer or a member of the administrative-professional staff with teaching responsibilities and is appointed for a one-year term. All five are voting members. The associate director of the School may serve on the committee, as determined by the school director.
The Lantern is part of the School of Communication. As such, all committee proposals for new initiatives shall be submitted to the school director.
The responsibilities of the publications committee include: (1) recommending to the school director the appointment of Lantern editors, (2) recommending to the faculty and director policies concerning the Lantern, (3) hearing and acting on policy or grievance issues involving the Lantern, including the removal and/or reprimand of student staff whose performance is unsatisfactory or violates school or university policy, (4) reviewing and making recommendations concerning issues brought to the committee by the director, adviser, faculty, staff, students or members of the Lantern audience.
Faculty Adviser
As an instructor in reporting and editing, the adviser has an instructor’s direct relationship with students enrolled in Lantern lab courses. This relationship is separate from the relationship the adviser has with Lantern editors who he or she advises on, among other subjects, Lantern policy and issues of daily operation, organization and management. The adviser advises the Lantern editors on professional journalism practice, including how to avoid publishing libel and other illegal content. The adviser is authorized to seek legal advice for the Lantern about issues on professional journalism practiced at the Lantern.
The adviser has the authority to recommend to the publications committee the dismissal of editors. The adviser acts as a liaison between the Lantern, publications committee, business office and the School of Communication. The adviser may also serve public relations functions for the Lantern.
Student Personnel
Lantern student staff members include (1) paid editors and writers selected by the publications committee, (2) enrollees in the Lantern practicum courses, (3) students approved by the Lantern adviser to enroll in independent-study courses to produce work for the Lantern and (4) students unaffiliated with the Lantern curriculum but approved by the Lantern adviser or editor-in-chief to regularly produce work for the Lantern.
Online posters, authors of letters to the editor, stringers and other occasional contributors, columnists and artists are not considered Lantern staff members. The Lantern welcomes submissions from non-staff contributors. Work by non-staff contributors must be produced consistent with the Lantern’s ethical standards. Non-staff contributors do not have access to Lantern equipment.
Hiring Editors
For hiring editors, a hiring subcommittee is organized from the publications committee. Normally, the publications committee chair serves as the chair of the hiring subcommittee. The subcommittee, depending on availability, is made up of a subgroup of the publications committee and Lantern personnel and editors. The chair of the subcommittee, working with the Lantern adviser, determines which editorships are open and the deadline for applications. The positions will be advertised widely to maximize applications from diverse candidates.
Normally, an editor’s appointment is for an academic year. The length of the term is determined by the publication committee. Candidate interviews are also limited to those who plan to work with the Lantern for a full academic year.
Upon completion of the interviews, the subcommittee chair leads a meeting of the hiring subcommittee to make recommendations on appointments for the publications committee. The recommendations should be sent to the publications committee chair, who forwards the recommendations for a vote of the committee. The chair forwards positive recommendations by the committee to the director. Following the director’s approval, the Lantern adviser secures the acceptance of the offer of the position from each appointee.
It is important to note that, barring unusual circumstances or a lack of competition, a Lantern Media editorship can be held by one person for one academic year. Though exceptions can be made for jobs for which there is only one applicant, the mission of the Lantern is to provide this real-life educational experience for as many qualified students as possible.
Lantern Media Job Descriptions
The publications committee may decide to leave certain positions unfilled, to split certain positions and to create special editorships to meet the needs of the Lantern. The committee may also create assistant editorships. These descriptions could change based on the needs of the Lantern and Lantern TV at any time.
Executive Editors
Editor-in-Chief:
As the top staff member, the editor-in-chief is responsible for setting journalistic standards for the Lantern and creating a professional atmosphere for everyone in the newsroom. The editor-in-chief presides over staff meetings and ushers the Lantern through the production process. The editor-in-chief plans and directs major projects or series. The editor-in-chief will manage the Opinions section. The EIC oversees the operations of Lantern TV and coordinates the activities with those of the paper. The editor may serve public relations functions, which include recruiting staff and contributors and representing the Lantern on and off campus. The EIC runs budget meetings.
Managing Editor-Content:
This editor reports to the editor-in-chief and is responsible for ensuring that printed and online content meets professional standards. The ME-C will supervise the independent study reporters. The campus, arts and sports editors will report to the ME-C. The ME-C will assist those editors in determining which stories the Lantern will cover and in the editing and packaging of stories. The editor will also monitor online traffic and readership on the Lantern website to help guide future story selection and online success. This editor will attend all budget meetings and run them in the EIC’s absence.
Managing Editor-Digital Content:
This editor, reporting to the EIC, has principal responsibility for the online version of the Lantern, and the production of content that will make the site compelling. They will help coordinate the efforts of the Lantern TV video producers to help produce compelling video for the website and to help coordinate newsgathering activities of video and print reporters. Management of Lantern websites is this editor’s primary responsibility. This editor also will help coordinate the production of podcasts, and help produce the emails sent to Lantern subscribers and must attend all budget meetings.
Managing Editor-Design:
This editor reports to the editor-in-chief and will supervise the design and photo editors. This editor will oversee the design of the Lantern. The editor will help the arts, sports and campus editors with the design of their pages. This editor will also oversee elements of online design for the website, and for the mobile app. The ME-D will design the front page and coordinate with the ME on the play of other stories. This editor prepares front-page teasers, indexes and other art. This editor attends all budget meetings.
Copy Chief:
This editor reports to the ME-Content and will review stories before assigning them to the copy desk. After copy editing, the chief copy editor should read every word of local copy and serve as the penultimate stop in the editing process before the Editor-in-Chief. This editor will supervise The Lantern practicum copy editors, working with the course instructor to ensure that the practicum students receive a high-quality experience. The copy chief must know Associated Press and Lantern style. This editor will attend all budget meetings.
Arts & Life
Arts & Life Editor:
This editor reports to the ME-content, supervising Lantern coverage of the arts. The arts editor will oversee the work of the Lantern TV Arts & Life Producer and help coordinate the daily and weekly production of video content, help select visual material and edit all copy with the assistance of the ME-Content and ME-Design. The editor will supervise a staff of arts writers from the Lantern practicum. The editor attends all budget meetings.
Assistant Arts Editor:
This editor will assist the arts editor in assigning stories and producing content to fill the section.
Lantern TV Arts & Life Producer:
The video producer reports to the Arts & Life editor and the ME-Digital Content. They work to report and produce video packages that complement stories or exist as video stories on their own. The Arts & Life video producer will work with editors, reporters, freelancers and independent studies reporters to help them create video packages featured on Lantern TV’s YouTube channel and on the Lantern websites.
Campus
Campus Editor:
The campus editor reports to the ME-Content and will supervise Lantern practicum reporters, assign stories, monitor the progress of the reporters and enforce deadlines. The campus editor’s primary job will be the day-to-day management of the reporters. However, the editor may be involved in long-term series or special projects. The campus editor leads and coordinates the paper’s online and printed coverage of breaking news. The campus editor will oversee the work of the Lantern TV Campus Producer and help coordinate the daily and weekly production of video content. The campus editor will work with the multimedia editors to get stories online as soon as possible. The campus editor must attend all budget meetings.
Assistant Campus Editor:
This editor will assist the campus editor in assigning stories and producing content to fill the section.
Lantern TV Campus Producer:
The video producer reports to the campus editor and the ME-Digital Content. They work to report and produce video packages that complement stories or exist as video stories on their own. The campus video producer will work with editors, reporters, freelancers and independent studies reporters to help them create video packages featured on Lantern TV’s YouTube channel and on the Lantern websites.
Sports
Sports Editor:
The sports editor reports to the ME-Content and is responsible for covering the major and minor sports in a way that reflects the variety of varsity and club athletics on campus. This editor also will decide if and how sports in Columbus and other Ohio cities will be covered. During away games, the sports editor has primary responsibility for live updates to social media. This editor supervises the Lantern practicum students who are sports writers. The sports editor will oversee the work of the Lantern TV sports producers and help coordinate the daily and weekly production of video content. The sports editor attends all budget meetings.
Assistant Sports Editor:
This editor will assist the sports editor in assigning stories and producing content to fill the section.
Lantern TV Sports Producer:
The video producer reports to the sports editor and the ME-Digital Content. They work to report and produce video packages that complement stories or exist as video stories on their own. The campus video producer will work with editors, reporters, freelancers and independent studies reporters to help them create video packages featured on Lantern TV’s YouTube channel and on the Lantern websites.
Asst. Lantern TV Sports Producer:
The asst. video producer reports to the sports editor, sports producer and the ME-Digital Content. They work to report and produce video packages in assistance to the sports producer.
Photo
Photo Editor:
The photo editor reports to the ME-Digital Content and ME-Design and manages the photo staff. This editor must train the photo staff, the editing staff, the independent study students and the Lantern practicum students in the electronic photo assignment process. This editor must make sure that photographers are available to shoot worthwhile assignments. This editor works with other editors to select images. The photo editor is responsible for the quality control of color, must consider ethical issues regarding editing or enhancing photos, must consider ethical and legal issues of photojournalism more generally and should maintain an archive of photos of people who may be newsworthy. The photo editor will attend all budget meetings.
Asst. Photo Editor:
This editor will assist the photo editor and shoot assignments.
Digital and Design
Social Media Editor:
This editor’s primary responsibility is to create engaging content on Lantern social media channels to help encourage and draw visitors to the website. This editor has experience working with social media channels and will monitor mentions and news consumer feedback. This editor will work with editors and station managers to help coordinate social media coverage of breaking news, events and sporting events. This editor will report to and assist the ME-Digital Content in all aspects of the position, from providing content to keeping the website updated and professional.
Infographic Editor:
This person will assist the Managing Editor for Design in the creation of all infographics prior to print nights. They are expected to attend all pitch and budget meetings and be present on print nights to assist with the implementation and editing of infographics. This person will communicate with writers, editors, and the managing editor for design to plan and create infographics to accompany stories ahead of time. In addition, they will be required to conduct research into topics pertaining to accompanying stories to aid the creation of the infographic as well as the best methods for data and informational visualization. The infographic editor is also encouraged to create standalone infographics. Much of this person’s work will be done prior to print night while finalization, editing, and implementation of graphics into layout design will occur during print night.
Design Editor:
This role entails aiding the Managing Editor for Design in creating layouts for more time-sensitive stories on the day of print. They will be tasked with coordinating with writers from pitch to budget to print in planning layout ahead of time and being flexible with timely stories. In addition to print, they will be tasked with coordinating with the Managing Editor for Digital in the design of online interactive graphics and in-depth page design. This person should be familiar with layout design and website design and be curious about areas of constant improvement and innovation through digital and print storytelling.
Projects
John R. Oller Special Projects Editor:
This reporter works on long investigative or interpretive projects and assists, when needed, in the coverage of breaking news. This reporter answers to the ME- Content and will spend roughly 5 hours in the newsroom each week to work and coordinate efforts with editors.
Patricia Miller Special Projects Reporter:
This reporter works on long investigative or interpretive projects and assists, when needed, in the coverage of breaking news. This reporter answers to the ME- Content and will spend roughly five hours in the newsroom each week to work and coordinate efforts with editors.
Special Projects Director:
This reporter works on long investigative or interpretive documentary-style video projects and assists, when needed, in the coverage of breaking news. This reporter reports to the ME-Digital Content and will spend roughly 5 hours in the newsroom each week to work and coordinate efforts with editors.
Staff Procedures
Editorial Board
The editorial board of the Lantern — consisting of the editor-in-chief, campus editor, managing editor-content and copy chief — decides on what issues Lantern editorials should address and what positions to take on those issues in meetings led by the editor-in-chief.
Editorial board members divide the responsibilities for writing editorials. The adviser and other faculty do not participate in discussions or meetings of this board unless their presence is requested by the board. Editorials are produced on an as-needed basis by the staff.
Evaluation of Lantern Staff
The adviser will meet with each newly appointed editor to review the job description, answer questions and provide an orientation. The adviser will meet periodically with the editors to review their performance. The adviser will keep the publications committee informed on the progress of these reviews, documenting the details as needed for promotions, disciplinary action or other needs indicated by the committee or school director.
Resignation and Termination
When a student withdraws early from an agreement, the publications committee, with the recommendation of the adviser and editor-in-chief, can appoint a student to complete the remainder of the agreement. Upon completion of the agreed-upon term, that position will be advertised.
A student staff member who resigns or is terminated shall receive wages due for services rendered. A student staff member may be terminated due to lack of work, lack of funding, unsatisfactory performance (based on evaluations), misconduct or violation of university rules
The supervisor or adviser should give two weeks advance notice of termination. A student staff member who is found in gross violation of university rules or misconduct may be terminated without advance notice.
The publications committee processes all termination decisions, making recommendations to the school director. The director of the School of Communication or designee will make decisions on terminations when the publications committee is unavailable to participate.
Policies
Code of Ethics
The Code of Ethics of the Society of Professional Journalists is the ethics policy for the Lantern. The code is an appendix in the handbook. Violation of this code may be the basis for dismissal or other sanction of any staff member or contributor. Student staff members will be asked to sign a form indicating that they understand the Lantern’s code of ethics.
The conflict of interest policy is an addendum to the Lantern Code of Ethics.
The Lantern recognizes that student staff may hold outside jobs for career development or for financial reasons. However, other employment must not conflict with the staff member’s responsibility to the Lantern.
Prior to starting a position, a staff member must report any media-related employment, internship volunteer position or other affiliation in any medium which will be referred to collectively below as “outside work,” to the editor-in-chief and the adviser to avoid any problems with conflict of interest in assignments or other staff editorial or business responsibilities. The editor-in-chief will determine whether any such work would pose a conflict for the Lantern, and the editor-in- chief may consult with other editors, the adviser and the publications committee to make a decision. The editor-in-chief should consider such factors as the nature of the publication and the similarity of responsibilities and any other factors that could interfere with the mission of the Lantern. Each judgment will be made on a case-by-case basis after consideration of all relevant factors. The editor-in-chief will inform the publications committee and the adviser on each specific decision made before informing the applicant.
A staff member must obtain approval from the editor-in-chief before undertaking outside work. The editor-in-chief should consider such factors as the nature of the publication, the similarity of responsibilities, and any other factors that could interfere with the mission of the Lantern. Each judgment will be made on a case-by-case basis after consideration of all relevant factors. The editor-in-chief will inform the publications committee and the adviser about each decision. When approved, such work is permissible only on a staff member’s own time.
If a staff member receives approval for outside work in accordance with this policy, he or she may not use the same (or similar) work for the Lantern. The editor-in-chief will determine whether work is sufficiently similar as to create a conflict after examining such factors as the similarity of sources, whether the same or similar events or issues were covered, and whether the same or similar language or medium of expression was used. Stories published in the Lantern may be republished elsewhere only with written consent of the Lantern.
Staff members are prohibited from using any information, equipment or resources of the Lantern for any other medium. A student on a Lantern assignment must not simultaneously perform journalism for another media outlet.
Staff members may not cover a campus organization of which they are a member or participate in any editorial or business decisions regarding the organization. Staff members may provide story leads about the organization to which they belong to other staff members, but in order to do so, they must disclose their relationship to the organization.
To maintain the role of the press as an independent watchdog of government, a staff member who is an elected or appointed member of student government or official representative for a campus political campaign or organization shall not cover campus politics or related events.
Lantern staff members involved in specific political actions shall not cover that involvement or submit stories that, in the judgment of the editors, connect to that involvement.
Staff members must disclose potential personal conflicts of interest to supervising editors and may not become involved in any stories dealing with family members or persons with whom they have a financial or close personal relationship.
Staff members must not use their positions at the Lantern to obtain any benefit or advantage not afforded to the general public. This includes the use of newspaper stationery or staff lists for purposes that are not consistent with the goals and purposes of the publication.
Editors of the Lantern may decide at any point to refuse to publish students’ work on grounds that may include violation of these policies.
Copyright Policy
The Lantern values the creative and intellectual contributions of the student staff. It is imperative that the Lantern maintains ownership of all intellectual property to fulfill its mission.
As a condition of participating in the Lantern, all students are required to assign to the Lantern all rights to intellectual property relating to “Lantern Materials.” The term “Lantern Materials” means all articles, stories, documents, text, photographs, images, designs, graphics, maps, software, computer code, data and other information or materials in any tangible medium of expression that is: (A) created by a student for the Lantern; (B) created with the use of Lantern equipment or resources; or (C) submitted to the Lantern for publication, regardless of whether the materials are actually published.
This means that all Lantern materials shall be solely owned and controlled by the Lantern and that the student may not submit Lantern materials to any other medium without the prior written consent of the Lantern. In return, the Lantern grants to the student a non-exclusive license to use Lantern materials created by the student for any academic or educational purpose. This means that while the Lantern continues to own all Lantern materials, the student is permitted to use Lantern materials that he or she creates for coursework, etc. without the prior consent of the Lantern. The student may subsequently request permission from the Lantern to have the property reproduced in other media.
In the event that any Lantern material generates revenue of $100 or more unrelated to the publication of the Lantern, the student is entitled to royalties in the amount of not less than 67 percent of the revenue for each dollar beyond $100. The Lantern will make reasonable efforts to locate the student who created the material. When the Lantern cannot locate the student, the Lantern will retain 100 percent of such revenue.
Orientation and Training
The Lantern adviser should regularly arrange for Lantern staff members to participate in orientation on Lantern policies and/or training on management, on diversity matters, on how to deal with the public, on legal and ethical issues and on other topics that will enhance the editors’ abilities to perform their work professionally. These sessions can be run by contacts from the OSU Office of Human Resources or from various staff members on campus who regularly present training to students, e.g., GLBT Student Services and the Multicultural Center. The adviser should maintain a list of attendance at such sessions.
Sexual Harrassment and Anti-Discrimination
The Lantern newsroom is both a workplace and a classroom. All activities there must comply with university policies and regulations. This means that newsroom must not be a hostile environment, but rather a place where all students can feel comfortable.
As supervisors, Lantern editors must treat student staff members with respect and fairness.
Staff members who are paid for their Lantern work are considered Ohio State University employees and must adhere to and enforce the sexual harassment and anti-discrimination policies of the University. In addition, editors who are in a supervisory position must communicate these policies to students who report to them and enforce them as necessary. Failure to comply with these policies is considered grounds for dismissal from the Lantern.
The policies are posted at the Web site of the OSU Office of Human Resources, hr.osu.edu/policy: Sexual Harassment Policy 1.15 and Affirmative Action, Equal Employment Opportunity and Non-Discrimination/Harassment Policy 1.10.
Plagiarism, Fabrication and Duplication
The Lantern follows the same guidelines on academic misconduct as the rest of OSU and the field of journalism. Fabrication in journalism is a cardinal sin. Faking facts, quotes or events is reprehensible and could land a journalist in court. Plagiarizing is to steal other’s ideas, words and pass them off as one’s own. Duplicating work is defined as submitting the same work to more than one instructor or publication without the prior knowledge and agreement of both. Commission of any of these offenses is grounds for disciplinary action up to and including dismissal. Lantern editors are responsible for enforcing this policy. Lantern editors and station managers who plagiarize also face disciplinary action from the university that can affect their status as students. The Committee on Academic Misconduct, which investigates and, when appropriate, determines sanctions.
Retention and Protection of Journalistic Information
The Lantern regards itself as a news medium of record for the Ohio State University community and therefore considers the Lantern’s news and editorial products to have significant historical value, both for the Lantern’s own continuing needs for background information and for the public interest in the history of the OSU community.
As much as is practically possible, all of the Lantern’s journalistic products (including stories, columns, editorials, cartoons, still and video photography, audio, art, graphics and other products)—whether published or unpublished in the newspaper or on the Lantern Web site— should be retained for continuing journalistic purposes and historical posterity.
This policy should be reconciled with the federal and state law of subpoenas and search warrants for journalistic products. The Lantern shall obey the law and act consistently with the Code of Ethics of the Society of Professional Journalists with respect to the issuance of subpoenas or application of search warrants seeking information from the Lantern.
Consistent with the law and SPJ code, the Lantern’s policy is to act as a responsible public citizen and journalistic organization in revealing to the public the sources of all information published. The decision to protect the identity of sources is made by the Lantern editors and adviser, as appropriate. The SPJ code states: “Identify sources whenever feasible…. The public is entitled to as much information as possible on sources’ reliability. Always question sources’ motives before promising anonymity. Clarify conditions attached to any promise made in exchange for information. Keep promises.”
The Lantern should comply with legal and legitimate requests or demands for information, whether published or unpublished. The Lantern, however, should resist illegitimate requests. The first step should be to practically ascertain the goal of a subpoena by contacting the lawyer issuing the subpoena. Subpoenas for civil proceedings, except possibly in a libel case against the Lantern, may be answered with requests for specificity of the material sought and possibly with a request for a fee for searching and reproducing materials. Illegal and illegitimate subpoenas should be resisted with legal counsel, whether through the OSU Office of Legal Affairs or attorneys engaged by the Lantern or both.