Editor and columnist Walter Lippmann said, “The theory of the free press is that the truth will emerge from free reporting and free discussion, not that it will be presented perfectly and instantly in any one account.”

The City College Times journalists are the free press on campus, and they attempt to report campus news fairly and accurately.  The reporters strive to relay truth rather than merely acting as public representatives for the school they attend.

However, the truth is hard to find when Times journalists continually face resistance to requested interviews. A recent request by a Times reporter for an interview with an official in the financial aid office proved fruitless; not one of the seven financial aid specialists responded to interview requests.

To be fair, some school officials have given generously of their time to student reporters.  The Times is grateful for all who take the time to answer its questions.

Still, reporters are concerned about the resistance they face from school officials in particular.  Perhaps previous errors cause potential interviewees to question whether their words will be reported accurately.

The Times is not written by professionals but by students of all experience levels.  They bear the scrutiny of all who read the newspaper and visit the website.  The Times students ask for their readers’ patience as they develop their reporting abilities over the course of the semester.  They also accept full responsibility for their errors and publish necessary corrections in the paper.

The reporters strive for the utmost accuracy by interviewing at least three sources, as well as recording interviews in order to relay exact quotations to readers.

Unfortunately, in addition to interview rejections, some students have been denied their right to record interviews.

Last semester, a reporter was instructed not to record an interview with a dean.  Student rights have been further denied this semester with rejection of the right to photograph and record.  But recording interviews lends a hand to interviewees by giving reporters infinite chances to verify the accuracy of their information.

The Brown Act of 1953 gives the public and the press the right to broadcast, audio-record and video-record campus meetings as long as the activity does not constitute a disruption of the proceedings.

The American Civil Liberties Union said that photographing in public places is a constitutional right.  San Jose City College is a public institution, and we the press and the public have a right –a duty– to pursue the truth.

The Sacramento Bee wrote in a 1952 editorial, “Public officers above all other persons should be imbued with the truth that their business is the public’s business and they should be the last to tolerate any attempt to keep the people from being fully informed as to what is going on in official agencies.”

Without a campus newspaper, staff, students and faculty would not have a vehicle for free speech.

They would no longer receive unbiased information about the campus and its activities or a look into that which happens behind closed doors.

This is your information; you are entitled to it.

You should support your college newspaper as it does its best to bring you the truth.