Editorial: We’re the Voice that’s here to listen

We are the Washtenaw Voice, the independent student publication at WCC.

Our team consists of nine scholarship students—an editor, deputy editor, digital editor, photo editor, two graphic designers and three staff writers. We also have an adviser who works with us when we need guidance or have questions.

Our ambition is to dial into interests of students, deliver news that is campus-focused and relevant, uphold journalism ethics in our reporting, and help tie together a campus community.

We don’t only report on what’s easy or obvious. We strive to dig deeper, uncover the `truth and present many perspectives and experiences.

We don’t assume we’ve done a good job, either—in fact, we try to not assume anything, which is why we look to our readers. We always welcome news, tips, perspectives, feedback and accountability.

We’re also always looking for contributors, including writers, designers, artists, photographers, videographers and more. Students interested in getting involved are invited to stop by our meetings, come by during editor office hours, send us an email or give us a call.

Additionally, our doors are also open to readers who might just be curious about the Voice and want to learn more about how we operate.

Student newspapers are unique as they provide interested students the opportunity to practice real journalism skills and procedures in a professional environment.

Some people may not know student newspapers at public institutions are protected by the First Amendment.

“College student editors have pretty much the same sort of First Amendment protection as any other journalist,” said Mike Hiestand, senior legal counsel for the Student Press Law Center. “Courts have said that school officials need to maintain a hands-off attitude with respect to student-edited media.”

This means the newspapers are independent from the college, and school officials can’t censor news content, including subtle forms of censorship, such as making changes to the budget or threatening an adviser’s job as an attempt to restrict what the newspaper publishes, according to Hiestand.

Voice staff members receive a scholarship from the college that is dispersed in equal amounts each month of the semester; contributors are paid a fee for each item published, which is funded by advertisement sales. However, this doesn’t change our right to free press.

“The purpose of the First Amendment is to limit the interference by government officials in our speech, and public university officials, public community college officials, they’re public officials or government officials,” Hiestand said. “The fact that you’re getting the scholarship for your work doesn’t change that.”

The Washtenaw Voice meets every Monday at 5 p.m. in TI-106. For more information, to get involved or to provide a news tip, contact us at 734-677-5125 or via email at thewashtenawvoice@gmail.com. Editor and deputy editor office hours are posted on washtenawvoice.com.

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