PRESENTATION OUTLINE
2016-17 Sidekick adviser goals
1. CHARACTER, CULTURE AND INTEGRITY
Each staff member, regardless of their role, appreciates the privilege of being a part of The Sidekick and Coppell Student Media. They are open-minded and respect others, inside and outside of the program, with different opinions. Staffers conduct themselves in a first-class manner while on Sidekick business, in other classes, and while in the community. Each member respects authority figures and shows respect for the campus, community, our country and those on the outside. A Sidekick staff member is honest all times and strives to always make positive decisions. Staffers also demonstrate good judgement before they speak or communicate and recognize the impact it can have on others. The campus and community thinks of Sidekick staff members as one of the very best groups on campus.
2. RESTORE PRIDE IN D115 NEWSROOM
The D115 newsroom serves as epicenter of Sidekick operations and staff members treat the space with respect and responsibility. Behind the leadership team, staff members use their time in D115 to work on Sidekick/Coppell Student Media tasks. The newsroom environment is one of respect and pride in our publication and program. Staff members do not bring items that violate the food/drink policy stated in the staff handbook to the newsroom. All equipment is cared for and properly checked-out and secured at all times. Behind the leadership team, staffers assure no trash or items are left behind after class. Being courteous of others (not talking while others are talking, not being distracted by phones, not propping feet up on tables, no bare feet, etc.) is the expectation of D115 at all times. Respect the work and time put in by the adviser and your predecessors on the staff in the D115 newsroom.
3. STUDENT JOURNALIST LEADERSHIP
While the adviser has the ultimate authority, this is a student newspaper and needs to be led by student journalists, regardless of their title or position on staff. This means leading when things are going well but also during times when difficult decisions are made. Whenever a staff member strays from the goals set forth by the program or is not fulfilling their responsibilities (such as missing deadlines, not covering an event properly, etc.) student journalists on staff should be the first to address the issue. New ideas for content in our newspaper and website should come from the minds of our students on a consistent basis for the entire school year. Staff members simply do not rely on what has been done in the past on The Sidekick, but explore what others are doing and how we can apply it to our program. Leaders utilize knowledge and skills attained at workshops and conventions to put items into action.
First and foremost, our job is to inform and tell stories to our campus and community. Also put your subjects and sources first when it comes to all forms of content - ranging from news stories, feature stories, and opinion pieces. No staff member uses our platform to push a personal agenda. Rather, they use personal experiences, opinions, and beliefs as a starting point to explore further with reporting and thorough sourcing. This includes all forms of opinion expression.
Every task and every item that is associated with The Sidekick newspaper and Coppell Student Media accurately represents the absolute very best of the individual journalist and overall program. Every journalist is on time and ready for interviews. Edits and revisions are thorough and embraced, without any resistance to make the necessary improvements. If a better photograph needs to be taken, the photographer readily takes it. If a lede needs to be rewritten or another source needs to be contacted, the reporter readily does it. The Sidekick staff needs to expect to be best in United States and needs to operate this way by never settling for anything but exceptional work on all fronts.
