2008 Woodie Awards
We will not accept corporate ownership
Jennifer Walton, Leah Mori, Adam Gibbs, Anne Waite, Brooke Schledewitz, Jeri Humphries, Bridget Cass
Issue date: 1/24/08 Section: Opinion
Media critic and University of Illinois professor Robert McChesney once described journalism as "the oxygen of democracy."
As graduate students and recent graduate alumni of the Department of Journalism & Technical Communication at CSU who are studying and working for the media systems that provide such oxygen to this country, we are appalled that CSU would consider buying into the concept of corporate ownership of an independent media outlet that is, as yet, still freely able to contribute to informing a democratic society.
In our department, we are taught from day one that corporate ownership of media often negatively impacts the quality and type of content produced. Corporate standards replace the voice of the media outlet. Fair and balanced journalistic moral codes shift to make room for consumerism and biased reporting. News holes shrink; advertising increases; commercial interest drives editorial content. Allowing such a move on our own campus would be hypocritical of the education we have received.
We strongly oppose a partnership of any kind between Gannett Company, Inc. and the Collegian. After all, look what Gannett ownership has done for the quality of the Coloradoan. When Gannett takes over a newspaper, local coverage suffers. CSU students and alumni who have worked for the Coloradoan have complained of brutal schedules with no overtime pay, impossible deadlines and questionable job security, which is characteristic of Gannett papers across the country.
Presumably, then, CSU coverage would also be threatened by this possible "takeover."
Media historians such as McChesney have traced the rise of professional journalism in the 20th century and noted how it has changed the media marketplace and sources of information. As it turns out, corporate ownership of a media outlet such as the Collegian would not likely "enhance educational opportunities for student journalists, enhance professional opportunities for student journalists, enhance journalism faculty advisory participation or improve services to the larger student body," as President Penley has contended.
As graduate students and recent graduate alumni of the Department of Journalism & Technical Communication at CSU who are studying and working for the media systems that provide such oxygen to this country, we are appalled that CSU would consider buying into the concept of corporate ownership of an independent media outlet that is, as yet, still freely able to contribute to informing a democratic society.
In our department, we are taught from day one that corporate ownership of media often negatively impacts the quality and type of content produced. Corporate standards replace the voice of the media outlet. Fair and balanced journalistic moral codes shift to make room for consumerism and biased reporting. News holes shrink; advertising increases; commercial interest drives editorial content. Allowing such a move on our own campus would be hypocritical of the education we have received.
We strongly oppose a partnership of any kind between Gannett Company, Inc. and the Collegian. After all, look what Gannett ownership has done for the quality of the Coloradoan. When Gannett takes over a newspaper, local coverage suffers. CSU students and alumni who have worked for the Coloradoan have complained of brutal schedules with no overtime pay, impossible deadlines and questionable job security, which is characteristic of Gannett papers across the country.
Presumably, then, CSU coverage would also be threatened by this possible "takeover."
Media historians such as McChesney have traced the rise of professional journalism in the 20th century and noted how it has changed the media marketplace and sources of information. As it turns out, corporate ownership of a media outlet such as the Collegian would not likely "enhance educational opportunities for student journalists, enhance professional opportunities for student journalists, enhance journalism faculty advisory participation or improve services to the larger student body," as President Penley has contended.
Viewing Comments 1 - 5 of 9
Bdygard
Craig Hawley
posted 1/24/08 @ 8:08 AM MST
Once again your headline betrays your arrogant unrealistic view of your importance and power on campus.
We will not accept corporate ownership. (Continued…)
Shawn
posted 1/24/08 @ 10:09 AM MST
Craig ... I hope you are a student and not a member of the faculty. If you are the latter, please change professions because you have no idea, nor respect for, what a free press should be about. (Continued…)
Jamie Folsom
posted 1/24/08 @ 10:13 AM MST
I wholeheartedly support the words of my colleagues. There is time enough after graduation to deal with corporate interests.
Registered Independent
posted 1/24/08 @ 12:12 PM MST
Judging from the position of this article, the fact that the authors have graduate student standing apparently only means that they would have done things slightly differently regarding the political "editorial" in question. (Continued…)
Bdygard
Craig Hawley
posted 1/24/08 @ 11:23 PM MST
I agree it is sad. But you miss what you should be sad about. Be sad that McSwane has forced everyone into these positions by his own selfish abuse of his power and authority ove a critical campus tool. (Continued…)
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