Springfield, Jonesboro, Edinboro, Fayetteville, Pomona, Paducah. Pearl, Bethel. Communities that never expected violence to erupt in their public schools. Should the student press cover what took place on their campus?

Most journalism educators would answer a definite yes.

In April-May 1998 issue of Quill & Scroll magazine, Shirley Yaskin, First Vice-President, Columbia Scholastic Press Advisers Association, discusses guidelines about crime coverage in student papers.

She tells of nine students from Killian High School in Miami, Florida, who were jailed in February, then, after charges were dropped, expelled from their high school and sent to other high schools to complete their education. Their crime? Distributing an underground pamphlet called The First Amendment. She uses this incident and several other real life cases to alert student publication staffs when covering violence on campus or crimes to "adhere the highest standards of responsible journalism."

Here are the four tips Yaskin offers to editors and advisers:

1. Don't let a staff member who has a personal complaint or has been a victim write the story.

2. Do try to get a police report if the crime was reported to officers.

3. Do be careful in deciding whether or not to print the names of those charged and the victims.
Although it is not a law, it is a common practice not to print the names of minors involved in crime. If a person charged with a crime in your school is over 18, consider the circumstances. If the student is charged with a felony, your publication can certainly print the name.

4. Don't let gossip be your source. Use legitimate adult sources including police reports, the police and attorneys to get the most accurate picture of details. … Let [students] state their opinions, not their expertise.