Ten legal and ethical survival tips:

1. Believe in and be prepared to act on the value of a free and responsible press to be able to complete the other nine.
2. Know rights, laws and policies needed for operating a professional publication.
3. Educate student staff, other students, faculty, administrators and the community about purpose, values and roles involved in free student expression.
4. Make known prior review and restraint are not acceptable educational practices.
5. Work out a system so students make all decisions of content.
6. Maintain the publication, by educational policy or practice, as an open forum or forum for student expression.
7. Carry out reporting and coverage using professional standards and ethical responsibility.
8. Maintain open channels of communication with school and community groups on a regular basis.
9. Support free expression rights of all in the community.
10. Believe your publication’s rights and responsibilities stem from the public’s right to know.