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When all over the country newsrooms are making do with slashed staffs
and salaries, the Gannett Co. is looking into a “strategic partnership”
between its Fort Collins Coloradoan and The Rocky Mountain Collegian —
the student newspaper at Colorado State University which shot to
national attention with the publication of a four-word editorial in
September: “Taser this. F--- BUSH.”
Why would a media giant like Gannett — which in addition to its
professional holdings, including USA Today, already owns two student
newspapers in Florida — be looking to purchase a third?
In an e-mail detailing his communications with Bob Moore, the
executive editor of The Coloradoan, journalism department chair Greg
Luft wrote that they had discussed “taking over management of the
Collegian and taking it private, as a for-profit entity, while allowing
students to direct the publication.”
Why else? To make money.
When all over the country newsrooms are making do with slashed staffs and salaries, the Gannett Co. is looking into a “strategic partnership” between its Fort Collins Coloradoan and The Rocky Mountain Collegian — the student newspaper at Colorado State University which shot to national attention with the publication of a four-word editorial in September: “Taser this. F--- BUSH.”
Why would a media giant like Gannett — which in addition to its professional holdings, including USA Today, already owns two student newspapers in Florida — be looking to purchase a third?
In an e-mail detailing his communications with Bob Moore, the executive editor of The Coloradoan, journalism department chair Greg Luft wrote that they had discussed “taking over management of the Collegian and taking it private, as a for-profit entity, while allowing students to direct the publication.”
Why else? To make money.
College students are notoriously the most sought-after demographic for advertisers. As a whole we are educated, we are young, we have a relatively large disposable income and we have yet to form the brand loyalties many older demographics have. For Gannett, another direct line between advertisers and this plum demographic could mean big bucks.
College students also, on the whole, work for cheap. The editor in chief of The Argonaut makes less than ASUI President Jon Gaffney. High-level editors at Gannett papers probably make a bit more. With Gannett management, would the rate of pay for student employees rise? Probably not — so Gannett would get equivalent work for much less.
What does Gannett bring to the table that is so much better than an independent student media? Students might have access to more scholarships. Students might have access to a professional work environment or professional feedback. Maybe.
An independent student media, however, allows student journalists a place to make mistakes. We can find our own scholarships and a functioning journalism department can make contacts with professionals in the field. But having the opportunity to try things that might not work perfectly well on the first try is something a corporate work environment can’t offer.
We’re students. We try to perform our jobs with as much professionalism as we can, but we’re still learning. We need a space to be able to do so. The sale of The Collegian would set a precedent that as students, our work and our learning process is for sale to the highest bidder.
— CW
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