Playing well with others; be nice, be professional, show respect

The School of Journalism at Ryerson University in Toronto has issued a set of written guidelines for its students and for the university community. Chair Paul Knox distributed an online link to the guidelines that are apparently intended to address come conflicts and "misunderstandings" between students who are doing daily or longer term reporting assignments (print, radio and TV) and faculty and staff of the downtown university.

Have you ever been approached by a Ryerson student journalist and wondered how to respond? Do you have questions about campus news media and their relationship to the School of Journalism?

If so, or if you're just interested in news and journalism, you might like to check out a document approved recently by the Journalism School Council. We hope the Guidelines will enhance understanding of the School of Journalism, its publications, its students and the practice of journalism in an academic program. We also hope it will help dispel some misconceptions and promote an atmosphere of mutual respect on campus.

The thread that runs through the guidelines is one of mutual respect and courtesy, something that everybody in this business can applaud. For instance:

• [for faculty and staff] Treat student reporters with the same respect you would like them to show you.
• [for students journalists] Don't demand interviews or information. Ask nicely. Be way more polite than you think is required, especially if you’re showing up unannounced. (You can never be too polite.)