Below find six “new” rules for education journalism, according to me. The best of the lot may be “Include at least 1 item not provided to you, a reaction quote, or lifted from another story.”

Feel free to add your own, or correct mine.

Some others who have already weighed in include former WSJ and Chicago Tribune reporter Stephanie Banchero (“Write more about policy/less about politics“) and former MinnPost writer Beth Hawkins (“No anecdotal ledes based on flak-escorted flash visits to classrooms“). 

Alexander Russo

Alexander Russo is a freelance education writer who has created several long-running blogs such as the national news site This Week In Education, District 299 (about Chicago schools), and LA School Report. He can be reached on Twitter at @alexanderrusso, on Facebook, or directly at alexanderrusso@gmail.com.