Student Media Operations

Each medium is encouraged to write its own explicit policies on corrections, retraction and

clarifications within these guidelines.

• Corrections, retractions, and clarifications should be prompt and straightforward, citing the general cause of the error(s). The apology should fit the offense.
• Editors-In-Chief and General Managers should consult with the writer, reporter, or broadcaster involved to talk about how the error occurred and how similar errors can be avoided in the future.

The Editor-in-Chief of each Communications Board publication is responsible for ensuring the proper form and placement of copyright notices in the medium.

Newspaper format publications are to have their title page on the front page. On this page, peferably beside or directly under the mastehead, the phrase “Copyright (year) ASUCLA Communications Board” must appear. The year is the one in which the first copy of the issue is distributed.

Requests for copyright assignment can only be made by the author(s) of the item, and must be made in writing to the Media Director.

Requests for copyright assignment must be approved by the Communications Board before assignments are actually made. The Board may attach financial or other conditions to the copyright assignment. Once assigned, the author(s) may further assign the copyright, subject to the restrictions of federal copyright laws and regulations, as well as financial or other conditions set by the Board.

Copyright for an item will be assigned by the Communications Board only with the condition that the item may continue to be used at any time in a student medium without permission of the assignee(s) or person(s) or organization(s) to whom it may be further assigned.

Individual(s) receiving an assignment of copyright from the Communications Board are responsible for filing on time the papers, documents, and other materials required by federal laws and regulations with the Register of Copyrights.

Individual(s) receiving and assignment of copyright from the Communications Board are responsible for paying all registration and assignment fees required by federal laws and regulations. If necessary, the individual(s) are also responsible for fees to register the Board’s copyright on the publication or issue of the publication in which the item appears.

The Media Director will not file required papers with the Register of Copyrights unless the assignee has paid reimbursed the Communications Board for these fees.

The Media Director is responsible for all matters related to registering and assigning the Board’s copyrights.

Once a copyright assignment is approved by the Communications Board , and the proper reimbursement is received from the assignee, the Media Director immediately files the papers, documents, and other materials required by the Board as assignor by federal laws and regulations with Register of Copyrights.

Following an approved request for copyright assignment, if the proper papers, documents, and other materials required by federal regulation are not filed by the assignee or by the Media Director with the Register of Copyrights within three months, the copyright is lost forever to both the Board and the assignee.

If copyright notice is properly run in the first copy of a publication, a copyright is secured for twenty-eight years from the date of first distribution. Copyright may be renewed for an additional twenty-eight years sometime during the twenty-eighth year of the initial copyright period.

The board does not ordinarily renew copyrights held by itself. To provide for the possibility that items copyrighted by the Board may required copyright renewal, the Media Director retains three copies of each copyrightable item for at least twenty-eight years from the date of first distribution.

In order to protect the rights and privileges of its members, it is the policy of the Communications Board that everything legally possible be done to prevent agencies, organizations, and individuals not associated with Student Media from gaining access to sources used and/or information gathered by the media.

This policy applies most strongly to situations in which such information and/or sources are sought by

• an agent, agency or other representative of any level of government
• parties to civil, criminal, or litigation of any kind.
• a court or agency empowered to issue a compulsory process.

While the Communications Board encourages divergent viewpoints so the university community has the benefit of the widest possible range of public opinion, it is the policy of the Communications Board that Student Media shall publish or broadcast statements that fairly reflect cultural realities.

In addressing departures from this standard, the Communications Board shall apply accepted journalistic standards and reasoned discourse as criteria.

The Communications Board ideals are contained in the Communications Board Constitution, By-Laws, and Policies & Procedures.

Student Media personnel shall exercise the utmost care and judgment and take affirmative action to make their staffs aware of the Communications Board’s ideals and standards, as well as the needs and sensitivities of their audience.

The Communications Board fully respects the constitutional right of free speech and will not restrict the Student Media’s freedom of opinion. However, the Board may choose to respond to media which do not achieve the Board’s ideal by publishing appropriate statements.

It is the Communication Board’s goal to provide programming that entertains while respecting the fundamental elements of taste and propriety and the expectations of the UCLA community as a whole.

The UCLA community is made up of individuals with a rich diversity of backgrounds, customs and tastes. The UCLA community should expect us to provide a wide selection of programs that stimulate thought and entertain without causing harm or undue embarrassment.

While the Communications Board respects the creativity of its broadcast producers and staff, the Communications Board in turn expects its broadcast producers and staff to respect the sensibilities of the UCLA community.

Our programming may not be false, misleading or deceptive. We will endeavor to present fictional material in a way that makes clear to viewers that it is fictional. Programming that is non-fictional must be accurate.

We respect the dignity of every human being. Sensitivity is necessary in the presentation of material relating to age, sex, race, religion, sexual orientation, ethnicity, national derivation and mental or physical disability in order to avoid demeaning stereotypes.

While we respect and encourage the presentation of a wide array of opinions, we do not engage in personal factual attacks against the honesty, character, integrity or morality of identifiable persons. Where matters of controversy are presented, we will endeavor to present legitimate contrasting views.

We respect the privacy of individuals, and will not depict matters in which an individual has a reasonable expectation of privacy without his or her consent. Events that occur in public places, and conversations that the participants would reasonably expect to be overheard by non-participants, are generally not private. Events that occur in the residences of individuals and in restrooms are generally private. Medical and sexual matters involving identifiable individuals are generally private.

Language must be that which is generally acceptable in a public setting in a large public university. Coarse or vulgar language should be avoided.

Explicit sexual material, including the depiction of genitalia, should be avoided. The depiction of physical coercion intended to satisfy prurient interests is unacceptable. The exploitation of any person for sexual purposes shall not be shown as desirable, beneficial or effective in problem solving.

Depictions of alcohol consumption and use of illegal drugs should be restricted to situations necessary to plot or character delineation. The abuse of alcohol and the use of illegal drugs is destructive behavior and shall not be shown as desirable, beneficial or effective in problem solving.

Depictions of violence should be used only when necessary to plot or character delineation. Explicit or excessive violence is unacceptable. Violence may not be glamorized or promoted, and it shall not be shown as desirable, beneficial or effective in problem solving.

Instructions regarding illegal activities, or the avoidance of apprehension for such activities, are unacceptable.

The Communications Board defines false journalism as the willful falsification of information in a story.

Incidents of false journalism should be brought to the attention of the Media Director and the Media Advisor. At their discretion, they may bring the matter to the Communications Board for further action.

At the discretion of the Communications Board, discipline from the appropriate university official, legal action, or other further action may be sought.

The Communications Board shall determine if the individual accused of false journalism is to be prohibited from contributing in any form to a Student medium. It is the responsibility of each Editor-in-Chief and General Manager to abide by this decision.

Before the Communications Board may take any action against a person accused of false journalism, the individual will be given an opportunity to present his or her case before the Board in Executive Session. Open session may be requested by the individual in question.

The Communications Board defines libel as any false and/or malicious written or broadcast statement, sign, picture, or cartoon, intended to damage an individual(s)’s reputation or expose person(s) to public hatred, contempt, or ridicule.

Written demands for a correction or retraction from a attorney representing a possible libelist should be immediately referred to the Media Advisor, Media Director, and the ASUCLA Executive Director.

The Media Director reports to the Communications Board at the next scheduled meeting.

The Communications Board considers the following actions dangerous and unprofessional:

• Having wire stories appear virtually word for word under bylines or credits of student media workers and broadcasters.
• Lifting stories or portions of stories from other newspapers, magazines, radio programs, or television programs.
• Stealing from the books, scholarship, and research of others.

Cases of possible plagiarism are to be brought to the attention of the Media Director and Media Advisor. At their discretion, they may bring the incident to the attention of the Communications Board for further action.

The Communications Board may seek disciplinary action from the appropriate University official, or legal action.

The Communications Board can determine whether the plagiarist should be prohibited from contributing in any form to a Student medium. The Media Advisor is to keep a record of the incident. It is the responsibility of each Editor-in-Chief and General Manager to abide by the Board’s decision in the matter.

The alleged plagiarist will be allowed the opportunity to present his or her case before the Communications Board in Executive session, or in Open session if requested.

1. Write a letter expressing your concern and submit it to the Editor-in-Chief or General Manager of the media.

2. Schedule a meeting and discuss your concern with the Editor-in-Chief or General Manager.

3. If the grievance cannot be resolved after the meeting with the Editor-in-Chief or General Manger, schedule a meeting and discuss your concern with the Media Director, the Editor-in-Chief, and appropriate career staff members.

The meeting should take place within five days of the initial meeting with the Editor-in-Chief or General Manager.

4. If the grievance cannot be resolved after the meeting with Media Director, Editor-in-Chief or General Manager, and appropriate career staff members, submit a written complaint within five school days after the meeting.

This written complaint should be addressed to the Chairperson of the UCLA Communications Board, 118 Kerckhoff Hall, 308 Westwood Plaza, Los Angeles, CA 90024.

The Chairperson of the UCLA Communications Board will immediately refer the concern to the appropriate Board Committee.

That committee will make every effort to meet before the next Communications Board meeting.

The recommendation of the committee will be referred to the Communications Board, at the next scheduled Communications Board meeting.

The Communications Board defines the right of privacy as the right of an individual to be “left alone,” to enjoy life as he or she sees fit, without his or her name or activities becoming public property unless he or she gives up that right.

The right of privacy is given up if there is consent, news worthiness, or constitutional privilege.

Written demands for correction or retraction from an attorney representing a possible plaintiff should immediately be referred to the Media Advisor, Media Director, and the ASUCLA Executive Director.

The Media Director reports to the Communications Board at the next scheduled meeting.

Federal law and regulations specify in detail the location and form of copyright notices to run in copyrighted works. Proper form and placement secures copyright for a work. Copyright on a work is forever lost if a copyright notice is not run in proper form in the first copy of a work distributed, or not run in the proper place.

The Editor-in-Chief of each Student Media publication is responsible for ensuring the proper form and placement of copyright notices in the medium.

Newspaper format publications are to have their title page on the front page. On this page, preferably beside or directly under the masthead, this statement must appear: Copyright (year) UCLA Communications Board

Editorials published or broadcast by any student medium must indicate that they do not necessarily represent the opinion of the Communications Board or Student Media as a whole.

This statement should be placed on the editorial page of Student Media Publications: Unsigned editorial represent a majority opinion of the (name of the medium) Editorial Board. All other columns, cartoons, and letters represent the opinion of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Editorial Board.

Approved: March 28, 1973

The Statement of Ownership is each print medium should indicate that the medium is owned by the Associated Students of UCLA and is published by the UCLA Communications Board.

This statement is to be broadcast on UCLA Radio at least twice per day:

UCLA Radio is owned by the Associated Students of UCLA and is operated by the UCLA Communications Board of the Associated Students of UCLA, 118 Kerckhoff Hall, 308 Westwood Plaza, Los Angeles, CA 90024.

This statement is to appear in each issue of any Student Media publication which accepts advertising:

The UCLA Communications Board fully supports the University of California’s policy on non-discrimination. The student media reserves the right to reject or modify advertising portraying disability, age, sex, or sexual orientation. It is the expectation of the Communications Board that the student media will exercise the right fairly and with sensitivity.

Approved: February 10, 1977 Amended: April 4, 1985

Any person believing that any advertising in the student media violates the Board’s policy on non-discrimination should communicate his or her complaints in writing to the Business Manager, (name of student medium), 118 Kerckhoff Hall, Westwood Plaza, Los Angeles, CA 90024. For assistance with housing discrimination problems, call: UCLA Housing Office (310) 825-4491, or the Housing Rights Center (213) 387-8400.

Approved: May 2, 1974 Amended: October 14, 1976, May 5, 1983, May 21, 1987

This notice is to be included in the staff boxes of Student Media publications, and incorporated into broadcasted statements of ownership:

The UCLA Communications Board has a media grievance procedure for resolving grievances against any of its publications. For a copy of the complete procedure, contact Student Media UCLA at 118 Kerckhoff Hall, 310 825-2787, or [email protected]

Approved: March 9, 1978 Amended: September 10, 1987