FLASHINGS has been printed under the guidelines, principles, and procedures of the Statement of Intent for 30 years.  It was accepted by the Freeport Board of Education in 1969 and has governed the operations of FLASHINGS since.  It was considered innovative at the time and has served as a model for other student newspapers around the country, having been written up in Newsday and the Columbia Scholastic Press Association journal.

Statement of Intent

1. As the Freeport high school newspaper, FLASHINGS is dedicated to responsible journalism.
2.  All copy will be written with integrity and with awareness and sesitivity on the part of the student.
3.  An editorial board shall be set up consisting of only students, with as many positions as deemed necessary by the editor-in-chief and the advisor.
4.  The editorial board shall read all copy submitted by any student wishing to write and will at that time decide whether it should be printed.  The decision to print rests entirely with the editors.
5.  All news copy must be factual and checked by the writer and editor.  All data and quotations must be reviewed and verified before printing.
6.  The decision to print any article rests in the hands of the editorial board only.
7.  The advisor shall read all copy but has no authority as regards selection of material and no vote on

the editorial board.
8.  The selection of an adviser shall be done jointly by the high school administration, the FLASHINGS editorial board, and the interested teacher.
9.  All responsiblity for publication is solely in the hands of the students.
10.  The selection of new editors shall be made by the existing editorial board on the basis of journalistic ability and integrity.  Individuals may be nominated for editorial positions by any member of the existing editorial board.  Approval of the nomination must come from one more than a majority of the votes on the editorial board for ratification.
11.  A motion for the dismissal of an existing editor may be forwarded by any member of the editorial board.  A motion for dismissal must be approved by one more than a majority of the votes (including the vote of the editor in question) on the editorial board.