The independent student news site of San Marcos, California

The Cougar Chronicle
The independent student news site of San Marcos, California

The Cougar Chronicle
The independent student news site of San Marcos, California

The Cougar Chronicle

Community Guide

Policies and Ethics 

The Cougar Chronicle is the independent student newspaper at California State University, San Marcos. 

Mission Statement 

The fundamental mission of The Chronicle is to uphold the highest standards of journalistic integrity. We are dedicated to reporting the truth in a fair and balanced manner, and we will represent every available aspect of an issue or story.  

We serve as a platform for student expression, and all of our content is written, edited, and managed by CSUSM students. Our organization maintains strict editorial independence from the University, and our goal is to engage and inform our campus community.  

Below is a list of guidelines we use for internal decision-making.  

Anonymity 

If a source requests that their name be withheld from publication: 

  • Anonymity must be requested before publication.  
  • Requests for anonymity are only granted after publication if there is substantial evidence of risk of harm to the source. 
  • Ex: If a source is at risk of losing their financial security, of being physically harmed, or may face harassment if their name were to be made public.  
  • Requests are granted at the discretion of the Editor-in-Chief.  
  • The source must understand that the Editor-in-Chief and reporter(s) will know their identity.  

Balance 

Members of The Chronicle will deliver accurate, fair, and objective reporting.  

  • All relevant individuals, entities, or groups named in an article will be allowed to comment on the topic. 
  • If a reporter is unable to obtain all sides of the story, the article should explain the reason. 
  • Ex: If a source declined to comment, a note will be added to the article.  
  • If a source were to reach out after publication, edits would be made to reflect any new information.  
  • The Chronicle requires reporters to cite sources relevant to the article. 
  • Ex: Other publications, appropriate individuals, and/or research.    
  • No one individual, group, or entity should receive disproportionate focus in comparison to their counterparts. 
  • Note: If a campus-affiliated individual, group, or entity feels that they have not been represented in an accurate and balanced manner, they can reach out to [email protected].  
  • Our purpose is to inform our readers, and as reporters, we seek to fairly present all applicable sides of an issue. 

 

Conflicts of Interest  

Our policies:  

  • Members of The Chronicle are barred from:  
  • Accepting gifts, money, bribes, or any form of compensation from sources.  
  • If a writer receives a free product, service, or meal for review purposes, it must be disclosed clearly within the article.  
  • Reporting on events where the writer has a personal, romantic, or financial relationship.  
  • Sponsoring student government candidates.  
  • Members of The Chronicle may not be involved with:  
  • Student government, including the Associated Students Inc. (ASI).  
  • Our members are allowed to volunteer for ASI but are not allowed to be a part of their Board of Directors and/or committees.  
  • Members of The Chronicle must avoid:  
  • Reporting on protests in which they were a participant. 
  • Displaying overt preference in any areas of coverage.  

Retractions 

If a source asks The Chronicle to remove their name from an article or to remove the article from our website entirely, at any point following the day of publication or years later: 

  • We do not retract information or stories.  
  • Exceptions are granted at the discretion of the Editor-in-Chief. 
  • If any information is incorrect, the reporter will issue a correction within the article, and a note of any new edits will be made above the article.  
  • By providing consent to be interviewed, you are acknowledging that your name and statement may be published and, once published, cannot be removed.  
  • Note: Please review our guidelines on anonymity above. 

Reviewing content before publication  

On and off the record 

Comments made off the record will not be published under any circumstances. It will be the responsibility of the source to clearly state what is off the record before the interview or the comment begins. If the request is made after a comment has already been given, it will be honored when possible. The source should specify: 

  • Which specific comments are off the record 
  • Whether the entire conversation is off the record or only parts of it 

If it’s not communicated, it will be up to the reporter’s discretion to decide what is considered on or off the record, in line with our ethical standards. 

Op-Eds 

As we challenge the institution – administration, faculty, and student population — to think carefully about controversial issues, we are dedicated to representing diverse student voices.

  • Any student, faculty member, or student-led organization can submit an Op-Ed, which is any piece not written by a Chronicle staff member 
  • These pieces can be written about any topic relevant to CSUSM or the San Marcos community 
  • Upon submission, staff members will only leave comments on the document if anything seems unclear. Upon approval by Editor-in-Chief, only direct edits to formatting will be made. 
  • We urge writers to review our community guidelines before beginning the writing process 
  • Staff members reserve the right to ask for changes by the author or to refuse publication for anything derogatory or incendiary towards other students or faculty members 
  • Any threats of direct harm or violence will be reported to the Dean of Students 
  • All Op-Eds must be around 500-700 words, 12-point font, and sent via email on a Microsoft Word or Google Document. Any format that can’t be directly edited will not be accepted.