2008 Woodie Awards
Uncertain fate of SLU paper leaves The Journal thankful
Issue date: 10/11/07 Section: Opinion/Editorial
- Page 1 of 1
We at The Journal do our best to report the happenings at Webster University and bring to light any occurrences that readers need to know about. This may not make us the campus favorites, but as student journalists, it is our job. While the WU administration may not like some of our stories or commentary, it has let us, as students, continue to make our own editorial decisions and maintain control of our newspaper. Some of our other area colleagues aren't as lucky.
In May 2007, St. Louis University officials met to change the charter of the student newspaper, The University News. The administration cited poor quality and financial mismanagement as its grounds to do so.
The SLU newspaper staff was left with two options: move the newspaper off-campus to be completely independent or accept the terms of the new charter. The main concern of the staff was the vice president of Student Development would now approve all editor positions on the paper. Formerly, the editor-in-chief chose the new editors who later elected a new editor-in-chief for the next year. The SLU administration would require the university-appointed advisory board to hire the editorial staff, and the final approval of all hirings would be given to the vice president of Student Government.
The UNews staff argued that this would infringe on its ability to accurately report the news on campus since the administration could fire them for publishing materials "contrary to the mission and values of St. Louis University," which is a Jesuit university.
Fortunately, UNews and the SLU administration reached a compromise. The newspaper would continue to hire its own editors, but the Office of Student Development would approve the decision.
The SLU administration's motives were very questionable. With a long history of animosity between the paper and the administration, the administration actions seemed to try to eliminate the students' First Amendment rights and create a press release for the university. The move to change the charter was made at the end of the semester when students were busy with finals and preparations for summer. The move could have been made anytime during the school year, as former UNews Editor-in-Chief Diana Benanti reported rumblings of a takeover throughout the year.
Although a compromise was reached, it still hurt the editorial independence of UNews. They are under stricter scrutiny and still report to the administration to some degree. The SLU administration should have respected its students and let them make the decisions on their own student newspaper.
We at The Journal appreciate the WU administration letting us maintain editorial control over our paper. Controversy has arisen between us in the past, but every time we have been able to sit down and discuss our issues together. We may sometimes make mistakes, but we are students and we are learning. We thank the university for giving us a chance to do that.
In May 2007, St. Louis University officials met to change the charter of the student newspaper, The University News. The administration cited poor quality and financial mismanagement as its grounds to do so.
The SLU newspaper staff was left with two options: move the newspaper off-campus to be completely independent or accept the terms of the new charter. The main concern of the staff was the vice president of Student Development would now approve all editor positions on the paper. Formerly, the editor-in-chief chose the new editors who later elected a new editor-in-chief for the next year. The SLU administration would require the university-appointed advisory board to hire the editorial staff, and the final approval of all hirings would be given to the vice president of Student Government.
The UNews staff argued that this would infringe on its ability to accurately report the news on campus since the administration could fire them for publishing materials "contrary to the mission and values of St. Louis University," which is a Jesuit university.
Fortunately, UNews and the SLU administration reached a compromise. The newspaper would continue to hire its own editors, but the Office of Student Development would approve the decision.
The SLU administration's motives were very questionable. With a long history of animosity between the paper and the administration, the administration actions seemed to try to eliminate the students' First Amendment rights and create a press release for the university. The move to change the charter was made at the end of the semester when students were busy with finals and preparations for summer. The move could have been made anytime during the school year, as former UNews Editor-in-Chief Diana Benanti reported rumblings of a takeover throughout the year.
Although a compromise was reached, it still hurt the editorial independence of UNews. They are under stricter scrutiny and still report to the administration to some degree. The SLU administration should have respected its students and let them make the decisions on their own student newspaper.
We at The Journal appreciate the WU administration letting us maintain editorial control over our paper. Controversy has arisen between us in the past, but every time we have been able to sit down and discuss our issues together. We may sometimes make mistakes, but we are students and we are learning. We thank the university for giving us a chance to do that.
Viewing Comments 1 - 1 of 1
diana.benanti
posted 11/27/07 @ 11:22 AM CST
well said.
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