Student journalists apologized for coverage of Jeff Sessions visit. Then they drew the ire of other journalists

CHICAGO - The student journalists at the Daily Northwestern have come under fire twice in the past week.

First they were roundly criticized by fellow students angered by how the paper covered last week's appearance by former U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions, an event that spurred tense protests at the Evanston campus.

Then, in an attempt to mend fences, the student editorial staff published a mea culpa on Sunday that has drawn the ire of journalists appalled that the students would apologize for what seemed to be basic journalistic practices.

Charles Whitaker, dean of Northwestern's journalism school, said social media not only intensified the pressure the students felt about their work but bullied the editorial team at the student-led paper into apologizing.

"I think social media has