About
MISSION STATEMENT:
The mission of the Frank W. Cox High School community and Falcon Press is to empower everyone to become a lifelong learner and a responsible, productive citizen of a global society.
EDITORIAL POLICY:
The Falcon Press is published online by the Journalism students of Frank. W. Cox High School, located at 2425 Shorehaven Dr., Virginia Beach, VA, 23454.
The Falcon Press seeks to provide information and entertainment for students and staff, involve students and staff in school life, and provide a public forum for ideas as guaranteed in the First Amendment to the Constitution of the United States. Furthermore, we strive to support the practice of authentic American Journalism within the parameters of Scholastic Press Law by enhancing an understanding of the First Amendment and the ethical responsibilities that accompany the rights it protects.
Editorials in the Falcon Press represent the views of the Editorial Board and do not necessarily reflect the views of the administration, faculty, student body, adviser, or other members of the school staff. The Falcon Press welcomes and encourages letters to the editor. The Editorial Board reserves the right to edit for clarity, length, and taste. The Falcon Press will not publish anonymous letters and letters submitted should not exceed 150 words.
The Editorial Board also reserves the right to refuse any advertising of illegal products under the law of the Commonwealth of Virginia, including, but not limited to, obscene material, or material judged to be extremely sensitive. The board also reserves the right to remove comments that attack a named or identified person or group unreasonably, make readers uncomfortable on the basis of race, gender, religion, disability, sexual orientation, or otherwise, if the comment contains excessive obscenity or sexual explicitness, or the comment threatens or encourages violence or illegal behavior. Students may submit letters to Falcon Press Adviser Erin Tonelson in Room 220 or through email [email protected]
The Falcon Press accepts paid advertisements and public service announcements.
ADVERTISING POLICY:
The publication will not accept advertisements for products that are illegal for minors to purchase and/or use and will not accept personal advertising. The publication will not run advertisements without a proper signature on the advertising contract which explains terms of payment, content, size, publishing dates, and includes an attached layout which explains the terms of payment, content, and size. If a published advertisement is incorrect in substantive content, a reduced price or corrected run will be negotiated.
Please click on the link: Ad Contract if interested in advertising in the Falcon Press during the 2019-2020 school year.
SOCIAL/DIGITAL MEDIA POLICY:
The Falcon Press follows the social/digital media policy released by Virginia Beach City Public Schools (VBCPS). Social media includes, but is not limited to, Facebook, Twitter, Youtube, Instagram, Snapchat, blogs, and other online platforms and programs.
The Falcon Press ensures privacy. We do not post information or photos of students who have returned an Opt-Out parent-signed media release form with the school division. We also ensure media releases are in place for our school employees. Photos taken at public events do not require confirmation of media releases.
Falcon Press social/digital media outlets promise to follow and uphold the VBCPS media policy, its values, and its mission statement as outlined on vbschools.com. The Falcon Press does not tolerate ethnic slurs, obscenities, innuendos, questionable language, or inappropriate content on any of our social media accounts.
REGARDING BYLINES:
All articles, graphics, photos, art, columns, pages, reviews and other material creatively conceived, with exception to staff editorials, mug shots, and cut-outs will be bylined with the producer’s name. furthermore, all bylined writers will be held accountable by both the adviser and the administration for their work. When more than one person has contributed creatively to a piece of work, any person who has contributed to the work must be bylined as a producer.
REGARDING ILLUSTRATIONS, PHOTOGRAPHS, GRAPHICS, VIDEOS, ETC…:
All photographs will be captioned and bylined and will record the who and other necessary information in the photo. Bylines are required on all online photos, slideshows, and/or videos. Any of the aforementioned that contain any inappropriate attire or actions will be reshot, The publication will not publish any visuals that ridicule, demean, or misleadingly represent any individuals or groups. No electronic manipulations changing the essential truth of the visual will be clearly labeled if used.
ONLINE CORRECTIONS AND COMMENT POLICY:
Corrections will be reviewed and noted, then updated if necessary in the online platform. The link below is an online correction form to submit mistakes found so that they can be brought to the attention of the staff. You may also contact the adviser at 757-648-5250 or email through the correction link below.
