Responses
Ruairi Fox, 11/7/2005, 10:51:55 PM
I am editor of my high school paper, the Rocket Times. We don't use pictures that have any type of beer, cigarette, etc. ad or sign. For instance, in our November issue, a student was balancing a beer cup on his forehead and, although we wanted too, we didn't use it. But this is really up to you. I'd say if the student body could handle such an image and not get any negative ideas, then I think it should be ok.
mg, 11/8/2005, 8:14:17 AM
i dont think so. it doesnt promote the drinking of alcohol any more than a student just looking at a website. it, i think, does no harm.
js, 11/8/2005, 1:58:14 PM
This would be your call according to how your school board governs. Our school board is rather strict and would scold our publication for a mere sign in the background.
bm, 11/9/2005, 8:08:27 AM
it's nothing worse than what people see on tv and the internet. i see no problem with using it.
Charlotte, 11/9/2005, 3:33:30 PM
I'm on a high school newspaper staff, and though of course I'm not the adviser or the administration, I can tell you that I'm not going to be tempted to drink because I see a neon Miller Lite insignia in my school paper. I honestly wish society at large would give high school students (and students in general) a little more credit - viewing an insignia isn't going to stimulate a deep subconscious need to thwart authority. I'd say the picture's fine - it's perfectly appropriate for a school paper, because you're not promoting alcohol if it's just a picture. Unless the caption says GO TO THIS RESTAURANT AND ORDER YOURSELVES UP A TALL COLD GLASS OF SIN, you're not endorsing it, and it's perfectly safe.
Diana, 11/12/2005, 7:36:36 AM
Does your school approve of shirts promoting any type of alcohol? Just as the shirts don't actually say go out and have one, the picture should be treated as if it too were a shirt. Is it a big deal to take another picture? I would think not. Why not error on the side of caution? You can't go wrong!
km, 11/12/2005, 3:13:47 PM
As a former adviser, I would ask Does the photo adequately portray the restaurant? If it is something everyone sees driving down the street because that is the shot the students took, why would you not run it? If they see it all of the time, it doesn't matter if it is in the school paper too--it's just a shot of a building and what it looks like.
However, if the students deliberately took a shot to emphasize the beer signs or took a shot at a little seen angle, again, probably just to get away with putting beer signs in the paper, I would have a rather serious talk with my editorial board and ask why they want to run such a photo and is it really the best shot of the building and does it relate to the story? I would throw it back at the editors to make a justification and decision on this matter. I would also remind them that if they want me to stick by them with the administration on tough issues, they need to pick their battles wisely. Is this something we really feel is an issue to push or not. Is there a better way to illustrate the story. Shouldn't you have a picture inside with a student eating a burrito?
Kim, 11/12/2005, 5:48:17 PM
A few things:
1. ADVERTISEMENTS that are for products illegal to minors are not protected by the First Amendment (unprotected nine).
2. It is usually a standard to blur a brand name
3. Talk to your principal, he/she'll be able to guide you away or towards the publication of the photo
happy journalism-ing
mike, 11/14/2005, 4:51:00 PM
I don't see a legal or for that matter ethical problem if the sign just happens to be in the photo. (Ethically, it''s a different matter ifthe photog tried to get a beer sign in.) So use it. On the other hand, if your principal is looking for fault, you might want to send the kid back to shoot again. Why get in a fight over something trivial if you can avoid it. On a final note: I could recommend to you a printer that will so over-ink your photos that no one will be able to read the sign anyway.
km, 11/16/2005, 9:51:02 PM
I wouldn't check with the principal as this starts a precedent of prior review by administration. Ask the student law center instead if there is a question. Better yet, have the students ask the student law center and research the topic. Perhpas set up a conference call with the center--they are always willing to talk to students and advisers alike.
Matthew Lent, 11/20/2005, 10:33:43 PM
Print it! If your administration takes issue, you better brace yourself for a pretty boring paper because a harmless beer sign in the background of a picture is nothing!
Gail Kirkland, 12/6/2005, 2:59:44 PM
You need to consider the overall context of the photo. Does the background of the photo detract or add to the overall perspective of the picture? That's the larger question; the beer sign is incidental if it does not "overtake" the photo.
Daniel Price, 12/11/2005, 6:21:58 PM
It's fine. The object of the picture is the restraunt. Restraunts can serve alchohol and still be student friendly establishments. Print it!
Jo-ke-mo, 4/5/2006, 6:14:49 PM
Hey I think that it would be perfectly fine to have that picture in your school paper because like what all these other people said it is not like they are say," Hey you need to go and buy this ~~~~~~ beer!" you know. yeah it should be fine but if you were in like elementary or middle school it would totally be a differ story!
