It would be tempting to disregard controversial content at the scholastic journalism level. Journalism teachers wouldn't fear getting fired, and students wouldn't worry about making their subjects angry. I'm sure the administration wouldn't mind, either.
But we educators know that if we take the controversy out of journalism, then we'd be teaching public relations. It's a necessary evil to teach scholastic journalists that sometimes news ain't pretty.
Covering controversy is not easy for anyone, not even the experienced investigative reporter or war photographer. It takes a lot of research, guts, time and sometimes a hard shell. It also takes cultivating sources and contacts (with cops, the school system, the local government), and maintaining a reputation of being fair and trustworthy.
What is considered controversial content? According to Merriam-Webster, controversy is a discussion marked especially by the expression of opposing views, a dispute. But it's more than that. Controversy is bad decisions, tragic accidents and simple mistakes.
Whatever the topic or subject, journalists need to be prepared to cover it, to shed a light on it, rather than ignore or run from it, because it's our social responsibility as news reporters. It's sometimes easier said than done, and easier taught than applied. Sure, most student journalists might not ever cover controversy throughout their scholastic careers, but they all should be taught to do so.
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