By The SPOKE

Each school year, The Spoke Editorial Board presents the policy that will guide the paper’s direction. We hope to be as transparent as possible as we continue to cover the T/E community.

Our Mission

The Spoke serves as a public forum for student expression. We strive to objectively cover stories of interest within our school and community. We understand our responsibility to report in an unbiased and ethical manner.

The Spoke staff aims to include a diverse range of issues and voices within the paper. While some of the topics within The Spoke may be considered controversial, our reporters work to cover the stories with care, precision and impartiality. The Spoke follows the Society of Professional Journalists’ Code of Ethics.

Publication

The Spoke releases seven print issues a year. The paper is printed by Trumbull Printing and copies can be found in Conestoga High School, as well as in select locations around the community. Readers who subscribe to The Spoke receive issues mailed directly to their homes. If interested in a subscription, contact our business manager at [email protected] for more information. Our publication is also available on issuu.com and spoke.news.

What We Cover

Each issue, staff members collect and suggest timely story ideas to submit to the editorial board for review. The Spoke makes an effort to report on the achievements and activities of students, faculty and community members. To suggest a story idea, email The Spoke at [email protected]. The views represented in signed opinion articles are not reflective of the opinions of the staff as a whole. An unsigned editorial represents the consensus of the editorial board.

Our Rights

The Spoke is not subject to administrative prior review nor restraint, meaning that TESD administration does not see the paper before it is printed and cannot censor content unless it is obscene, libelous or would materially and substantially interfere with the educational process.

Advisers serve as educators and consultants only, leaving the editorial board to make decisions on how content will be treated. With all stories, the editorial board considers the journalistic and ethical implications of publication. All editorial, journalistic and publication disputes are approved by an absolute majority of the editorial board.

Online Presence

Spoke.news is a student-run and student-owned website; no district employees are responsible for the content and coverage on spoke.news nor any of The Spoke’s social media platforms. Social media includes but is not limited to The Spoke’s Instagram, YouTube, X (formerly known as Twitter), TikTok and Facebook.

Your Voice

The editorial board always hopes to include diverse voices from our school and community. To contribute to The Spoke, contact the editorial board at [email protected] or Editor-in-Chief Ben Shapiro at [email protected]. We welcome Letters to the Editor with commentary on our coverage and current events.

Advertising

Businesses can support The Spoke by buying advertisements in the paper or sponsoring features like Commitment Corner or Teacher Feature. We reserve the right to reject, edit or cancel any advertisement at any time. Interested parties should contact our business manager at mtierney@spoke.

The SPOKE can be reached at [email protected].