Spring Break
Gannett eyes Collegian takeover
Erik Myers
Issue date: 1/23/08 Section: News
But one faculty e-mail alludes to more than a preliminary discussion.
Greg Luft, chair of the Department of Journalism and Technical Communication, sent an e-mail to his department about his discussion with Moore, which detailed "taking over management of the Collegian and taking it private, as a for-profit entity, while allowing students to direct the publication."
Later Tuesday, Penley released a university-wide statement to address the meeting, saying he agreed to meet with Moore and Chin based on a strong relationship between the university and the Coloradoan.
As a result of the discussion, Penley asked Moore and Chin for a formal proposal of their plan, one that would argue how a partnership with the Collegian would enhance opportunities for student journalists, faculty participation and services to the student body.
In his statement, Penley said the process will be transparent and the CSU community will be included in the discussion.
"Should the Coloradoan choose to move forward, we will make the consideration of the proposal a public process whereby input from students, faculty and staff will guide my advice to the Board of Governors in making any decisions," Penley said in the statement.
Bohlander said that the university's concern regarded the students involved and what possible benefits would become available in a strategic partnership.
"Obviously our concern is what's best for the students: Could they come in and provide student scholarships? Could they come in and provide a direct, clear pathway to the nation's largest newspaper corporation?" Bohlander said.
But McSwane said a Gannett-controlled student media would be anything but and that his exclusion from the meeting was suspect.
"They knew what I was going to say: That the Collegian has been here for 117 years, and it'd be a disgrace to be sold to a media giant," McSwane said. "(Penley) has screwed up by not letting students and staff take part in this discussion."
Greg Luft, chair of the Department of Journalism and Technical Communication, sent an e-mail to his department about his discussion with Moore, which detailed "taking over management of the Collegian and taking it private, as a for-profit entity, while allowing students to direct the publication."
Later Tuesday, Penley released a university-wide statement to address the meeting, saying he agreed to meet with Moore and Chin based on a strong relationship between the university and the Coloradoan.
As a result of the discussion, Penley asked Moore and Chin for a formal proposal of their plan, one that would argue how a partnership with the Collegian would enhance opportunities for student journalists, faculty participation and services to the student body.
In his statement, Penley said the process will be transparent and the CSU community will be included in the discussion.
"Should the Coloradoan choose to move forward, we will make the consideration of the proposal a public process whereby input from students, faculty and staff will guide my advice to the Board of Governors in making any decisions," Penley said in the statement.
Bohlander said that the university's concern regarded the students involved and what possible benefits would become available in a strategic partnership.
"Obviously our concern is what's best for the students: Could they come in and provide student scholarships? Could they come in and provide a direct, clear pathway to the nation's largest newspaper corporation?" Bohlander said.
But McSwane said a Gannett-controlled student media would be anything but and that his exclusion from the meeting was suspect.
"They knew what I was going to say: That the Collegian has been here for 117 years, and it'd be a disgrace to be sold to a media giant," McSwane said. "(Penley) has screwed up by not letting students and staff take part in this discussion."
Viewing Comments 1 - 10 of 30
M. Morris
posted 1/23/08 @ 2:13 AM MST
"'I really believe that good journalism brings that to the lives of the community,'" Moore said. "'I would hope a good student newspaper would become more civically engaged. (Continued…)
Bdygard
Craig Hawley
posted 1/23/08 @ 5:26 AM MST
Since the beginning McSWane and his colleagues have said this was about personal freedom of speech. That is not what the paper is about. It is supposed to be about the subscribers right to have a paper that reports the news allows them to form their opinions and doesn't curse and act in an unprofessional manner. (Continued…)
Tom
posted 1/23/08 @ 8:59 AM MST
The Collegian is printed on the Coloradoan presses. But seeing how the Coloradoan doesn't report on Fort Collins news, but instead focuses on Windsor and Loveland, I think that if the Collegian does get published by the Coloradoan, it won't report CSU news, but instead news about CU-Boulder and UW. (Continued…)
Doug
posted 1/23/08 @ 9:32 AM MST
It seems to me that this is a cautionary tale to student newspapers everywhere that unprofessional behavior has consequences. Just as poorly-run cafeterias have been outsourced on many campuses to fast-food chains, might not the quality of the paper actually improve with journalist leaders who know how to operate an orderly forum of ideas?
Jared
posted 1/23/08 @ 9:58 AM MST
Tom, how stupid are you?! For one, the Coloradoan frequently has Fort Collins news in it. Then there are a couple reasons why they have windsor and loveland news. (Continued…)
Jared
posted 1/23/08 @ 10:06 AM MST
Sorry Tom, didn't see the rest of your message.. So i'm sorry to throw you under the bus.
Main point, having Gannett take over the Collegian would be a great thing. (Continued…)
Kathy Lawrence
posted 1/23/08 @ 10:41 AM MST
The newspaper at Colorado State belongs to the students of Colorado State. It serves as the eyes, ears and voice of the students collectively. The two newspapers in Florida that were sold to Gannett were private, for-profit entities that didn't fit the traditional model of student newspapers. (Continued…)
Mat Cantore
posted 1/23/08 @ 10:56 AM MST
Putting control of a student newspaper into the hands of a for-profit corporation drastically reduces the effectiveness of the newspaper as an extracurricular academic experience. (Continued…)
Registered Independent
posted 1/23/08 @ 12:32 PM MST
Didn't the Collegian lose considerable advertising revenue due to the "Taser this" fiasco?
If so, then the Collegian editorial board are themselves responsible for this recent turn of events. (Continued…)
LINDA S. PUNTNEY
posted 1/23/08 @ 2:31 PM MST
Colorado State Collegian, like all college media, is a publication for the students by the students. Students make the news decisions, sell the ads, do the pre-press production, express opinion and tell the stories of the people and activities of Colorado State University. (Continued…)
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