Young journalists unite to save student newsrooms
There’s a recurring scene that student journalists continue to face across the nation. College newspapers struggle to make ends meet, resulting in the loss of student ownership and print and digital products.
Melissa Gomez, editor-in-chief of The Independent Alligator at the University of Florida, took action after seeing a thread from Southern Methodist alumna Jessica Huseman regarding the proposed changes for The Daily Campus newspaper. She said her first thought was that it could happen to her and her staff at The Alligator.
Facing pay cuts, The Alligator saw numbers stagnate and had to limit who they could bring in. On top of that, the 2017–2018 school year was the first year the student newsroom no longer produced a daily print publication.
Since April 5, student newspapers turned to social media to rally and unite alumni, students, professional journalists, readers and educators to support student newsrooms coast to coast.
The #SaveStudentNewsrooms campaign included a Twitter hashtag to garner support building up to a ‘Support Student Journalism Day’ April 25.
Three editors of The Independent Alligator worked together to create the initiative. Seniors Melissa Gomez, editor-in-chief; Caitlin Ostroff, digital managing editor; and Jimena Tavel, engagement managing editor, started the hashtag, created a website and continue to advocate ahead of the day of action.
In an April 11 editorial, newsroom leaders said student newsrooms across the U.S. were not just struggling, they were hemorrhaging.
With little revenue and a rising cost to print, many independent university papers turn to their school for funding, often at the cost of their editorial independence. Some even shut down altogether.
The Alligator’s editorial says students work long hours for little or no pay because they care about their community and holding the university accountable. But this movement doesn’t just highlight the issues facing student journalists or independent papers.
It also calls for student journalists and professionals to find ways to fund student newsrooms, as well as for student journalists to “become advocates for themselves and to remind others how critical they are to a community.”
The idea of fostering a community for student journalists isn’t a new one. Tavel and Ostroff mentioned they were apart of online journalism groups through sites such as Facebook, where they built connections. Ostroff said before their initiative, there wasn’t a place for student journalists and student editors from different universities to connect. Having a place for student newsroom leaders could help those in similar situations meet each other and discuss issues and find solutions.
The three women knew asking professionals for support would be tough, considering alumni were facing the same difficulties in their own newsrooms.
Instead, they focused on their peers. They compiled a list of student newsrooms to share their message with. Tavel said they divided the list by state and began sending emails, with at least 600 messages sent to student publications across the U.S. Soon, newsrooms responded, joining a list on the SaveStudentNewsrooms website. Ninety student publications are on the list as of April 21.
Adding student newsrooms to the growing list on the website, writing testimonials and sharing student work on social media are small steps in the call to action.
On Wednesday, student-run news organizations will publish editorials stating the importance of student journalism and the need for support.
For Gomez, organizing a social media campaign and call to action for student news organizations, along with juggling school and her job, is “more like living and breathing journalism.” She spends time sending emails and replying to messages on social media for the campaign, while school is “just there.”
Tavel said it was inspiring to talk to other student journalists, especially seeing how the Daily Orange covered the fallout after Syracuse University suspended the Theta Tau fraternity chapter Friday for “racist behavior.” The student paper obtained the videos in question and published them when the university would not. A thorough roundup of photo galleries, opinion pieces, breaking news stories and live coverage of student protests is a glimpse at the depth and breadth of that student newsroom, which clearly has an impact. As of Saturday afternoon, The fraternity was permanently expelled. “The connections with other [students] and these discussions move journalism forward,” she said.
The movement is gaining traction. Advocates for student media are showing their support. Students, alumni, journalism professionals and media organizations have spread the message and told their stories, from individual Twitter threads to planned newspaper editorials. Journalism advocates such as College Media Matters and the Society of Professional Journalists have expanded the conversation beyond Twitter.
I shared my story about how the Ball State Daily News gave me a place to learn how to be a storyteller and create my own path as an art major at the intersection of fine art and journalism. I wasn’t the only, or first, student newsroom alumna to do so.
The editors didn’t expect this much support, or such high interest. Gomez said they hope the conversation and movement continues, especially after the three graduate.
“After April 25, the work doesn’t stop. This isn’t going to solve itself,” she said.
Ostroff reiterated the importance of younger journalists taking ownership of the movement. A community for student journalists is necessary to keep the industry moving forward. Ostroff quoted a note that hangs in the newsroom, written by alumni Ian Cohen, as a testament to what they do, stating, “I don’t go to U.F. I go to The Alligator.”
