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Vol. XX, No. 2 - Page 13
Television policy finally adopted at Blair High School
After a superintendent censored a student produced talk show, administrators and students searched for an agreeable solution
© 1999 Student Press Law Center
MARYLAND - After more than three years of discussing and
debating, Blair High School finally has accepted a broadcasting
guideline and regulation proposal for their student television
station.
Although Bob Becker, a media attorney representing the Washington
Professional Chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists,
says he is not sure the new regulations, which appear to be only
minor alterations to an earlier rejected draft, will steer clear
of future controversies. But the students and administrators
are satisfied that a guideline finally exists.
The need for guidelines developed after the student produced talk
show series, Shades of Grey, shot an episode about same
sex marriages in 1996, and the superintendent refused to air it.
The students responded by filing a complaint.
A proposal for broadcast programming was introduced during a September
school board meeting, but was not passed because of disagreements
over how much control the administration should have over the
show and what type of content would be deemed appropriate.
The plan that did pass, however, consists of minor revisions from
the first plan. The provision that stated "Programs/tapes
will be unacceptable for cablecasting ... [if] the program contains
language that is disrespectful, verbally abusive, or insensitive
to others" was deleted "to promote consistency in the
application of the guidelines," wrote Superintendent Paul
Vance to the Board of Education.
However, the policy still prohibits students to air programs that
"as a whole or in significant part, condone harassment, physical
violence or illegal discrimination toward any person."
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