Student media organizations are now facing an issue the journalism field as a whole has been seeing for years — a decline in support. Leaders of these organizations are rethinking how they operate to cover communities beyond their campuses.
According to a 2016 joint report from the American Association of University Professors, the College Media Association, the National Coalition Against Censorship and the Student Press Law Center, journalism fulfills a healthful civic function even within an institution of higher education. This civic function, they argue, should not be influenced by those in power.
“Student media must be free from all forms of external interference designed to regulate its content” the report said.
The report suggested instituting state statutes that advance the editorial independence of student media organizations by protecting faculty advisers and sources whose vulnerability can make it harder for students to cover news of community importance.
In a speech given by Mary Beth Tinker — plaintiff from the 1969 Tinker v. Des Moines Supreme Court case — at Ohio University last March, the free speech advocate said the First Amendment is not just important for public demonstrations, but also for student journalism.
“(Journalism is) a very brave profession,” Tinker said. “It's a very risky profession, but a very, very important one. We relied on journalists so much to learn about the Vietnam War, to learn about the Birmingham children and so much more.”
Tinker’s case set a precedent that protects the free speech rights of student journalists and emphasized the importance of free expression in the press.
According to Andrea Lewis, director of student media at Ohio University, the right to free speech and a free press isn’t the only factor affecting student media organizations. Fostering an environment where students feel empowered to learn and challenge themselves is also important.
“The goal, whether it's making a film, printing a magazine, putting out a daily newspaper online, or whatever, (is) they have support to do that,” Lewis said. “Their content is what's paramount.’
As student media director, Lewis said her primary job is helping student media organizations behind-the-scenes with processes like procurement, billing and budgeting.
After five years in the position, Lewis also recognizes how privileged OU student media programs are to have an advisor who works behind the scenes.
According to Alton Northup, editor-in-chief of The Kent Stater, the lack of support has forced the consolidation of Kent State University student media organizations.
“Phase one is consolidating our TV Two and Kent Stater brands into just the Kent Stater and The Kent Stater TV,” Northup said. “The goal of this is to reflect legacy media while also participating in the new digital journalism that the real world is experiencing right now.”
Northup said in the fall he will instead serve as the news director for both the newspaper and television station. He added the consolidation will bring an ad manager, social media team and increase revenue for both the TV station and the newspaper.
While some newsrooms are making large-scale changes to their operations, some like The Collegian out of the University of Toledo are getting off the ground again.
Editor-in-Chief Darby Stevens said the Collegian had been dormant for several years before students decided to revive it.
“It's part passion and passion project,” Stevens said. “We're only publishing four times a semester, which is up from last year.”
Stevens said the biggest challenge now is staffing.
Stevens said the Collegian is university-funded, but there hasn’t been any editorial influence. Stevens said they hope the paper becomes self-funded soon to establish journalistic integrity.
“Knowledge is power,” Stevens said. “That's what it comes back to. Having not only an education but having an experience of a community.”
