More freelancing discussion needed

Last week's column about the IDS freelancing policy ("'IDS' should tolerate freelancing," Feb. 20) generated a considerable amount of feedback. Graduate students, a professional journalist and two IDS editors offered their views on freelancing.\nThe number of responses was second only to the number received in regard to the IDS sponsorship of Bob Knight's farewell speech last semester. \nThus, this week's column will revisit the issue of the IDS freelancing policy, discuss it in greater depth and allow those whose interests are at stake to voice their opinions in print.\nAn important point that wasn't covered in last week's column is the relationship between a reporter and his or her sources. As it turns out, this is one of the most important reasons for the IDS policy that prohibits freelancing with competing publications.\n"We are in competition with The Herald-Times and the Independent," said Brooke Ruivivar, IDS editor in chief. "And so, it's bad to write for both publications. But when you're reporting for the IDS and then you report for someone else, your sources don't know who they're talking to."\nRuivivar said allowing IDS reporters to freelance among local media could hurt the newspaper's credibility.\nOther freelancing problems Ruivivar mentioned are the integrity of the newsroom itself and the trust that must exist among the reporters, editors and other IDS employees. \n"We talk about a lot of stories in the newsroom," she said. "Openly, we ask for lots of reporters' advice and we want everybody to be involved -- with writing headlines, with whom to call, with helping out -- and it's hard to do that when you're afraid that the person you're sitting next to could run to The Herald-Times and give them the story."\nManaging Editor Liz Beltramini said IDS reporters should feel comfortable in the newsroom and open to discussion about the stories on which they're working, and failing to enforce the freelancing policy would create more problems. \n"If there's a clear line that you don't cross, then there's no question," she said. "It's really ineffective to have a policy if you don't stick by it. And if you make an exception here and an exception there, then there's no point in having the policy." \nRuivivar did not cite any specific examples of an IDS reporter taking a story or giving a story proposal to a rival publication, but such an occurrence could happen. The IDS policy on freelancing is in place to guard against such scenarios. But the policy is far from perfect -- a fact the IDS editors freely acknowledge.\n"One thing that the code of ethics board is looking at is what constitutes a 'competing publication,'" Ruivivar said. "The IDS code of ethics right now is really, really vague, and I think a lot of the editors want something that's more concrete."\nPolicy revision is the first step toward solving this problem. But the IDS should also be more self-aware and try to get a better sense of what its readers think. Whether the IDS is a student publication, a professional newspaper or a little bit of both is another important question --one that will vary depending on who you talk to. \nJournalism graduate student Jim Stinson, an IDS columnist, had this to say: "As for the idea of 'competition,' I would remind the ids they are supposed to be a student newspaper, one that would not deny part-time writers further opportunity over imagined business concerns." \nStinson also said the IDS freelancing policy keeps the newspaper from reaching its full potential. "This policy doesn't help the IDS increase its pool of talent," he said. "It also denies undergraduates and graduates an opportunity to learn from each other. Honestly, graduate students view the paper as beneath them and are seriously frustrated with editing mistakes they see in their stories."\nThe IDS leadership sharply disagrees with the assertions of Stinson and other critics who say the newspaper isn't a true competitor in the local media market. "For advertising dollars, for stories -- we try to scoop them, they try to scoop us," Beltramini said. "That's something really important for us to remember. We are not just a student publication; we are a professional organization."\nThe IDS's willingness to question and revise its policies is a testament to Beltramini's assertion of professionalism. \nSo, keep reading the IDS with a critical eye and an open mind. And don't be afraid to speak your mind regarding what you like and dislike about the newspaper.\nWith your help, it can only get better.