Most student media not ‘truly independent of university control,' study finds
Outlets urged to be more upfront about financial ties with their institution
A new study found the majority of student newspapers rely on financial and advisory resources from their institution, raising questions about their independence and stability.
Out of 362 student newspapers surveyed across the country, 56.1% of them get some sort of funding from their respective institutions, according to a report from the University of Florida’s Brechner Freedom of Information Project published last week.
The same study found that 58.8% of the outlets are advised by faculty or staff on their university’s payroll.
“We’re not telling you you’re not being good because you get money from the institution or you have a faculty advisor,” researcher Jessica Sparks said at a panel with the Student Press Law Center last week. “But just understanding the vulnerability that takes place there from the legal standpoint is really important for students and student media.”
While the report acknowledged that receiving institutional funding or guidance from faculty doesn't necessarily imply interference, it raises concerns about potential conflicts regarding coverage.
Sparks, a PhD candidate at UF, questioned what it would bring to the table for student journalists if they’re hitting the wrong note with certain people on campus when their university faces an enrollment decline.
According to the report, only 52 student outlets across the country are tax-exempt organizations. The non-profit status is typically associated with larger institutions, including all Ivy League schools.
Relying on support from other nonprofits, The Daily Texan at the University of Texas at Austin and The Tech at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology are among those financially independent without a tax-exempt status.
They are becoming less able to sustain themselves, however, according to the report. With an average of 8.5% decline in advertising dollars, the study found these papers are increasingly reliant on indirect university funds.
The findings did not account for other forms of university support such as building usage, utility bills and technological equipment.
When it comes to having a faculty or staff advisor, the report highlighted concerns about potential career-based retaliation from officials, which could compromise the advisor’s ability to fulfill their roles effectively.
Sparks, who used to advise student journalists, recounted instances where colleagues confided that certain articles had made members of the tenure and promotion committee upset.
“Having to play that political role as both a colleague and an ethical adviser, somebody who actually supports their students and doesn’t want to stand in their way, is a really problematic system,” she said.
Asked about what student journalists should do, Sparks urged them to be more transparent about their funding sources, advisor roles and institutional resources.
By openly communicating these details, Sparks said student journalists can better demonstrate their value and advocate for continued support from their communities, especially in times of funding cuts.
For instance, The Flat Hat, the student newspaper at the College of William and Mary, has a dedicated page for financial transparency. The Daily Campus at the University of Connecticut also has a public page for organizational documents including its budget.
Sparks recommended that students, in consultation with their administration, establish a designated public forum to clarify the student outlet's purpose and ensure its independence from institutional influence.
The Flor Ala at the University of Northern Alabama has a page detailing what it does, its process and its advisor’s role as “a coach and educator, but not an editor.”
“There are some things that need to be discussed before you can do full independence,” she said. “The further away from that tie you can get, the better off you are to sustain autonomy and independence.”
The report also calls for a federal “New Voices” law. Currently enacted in 17 states, this legislation serves to counteract restrictions on student journalists posed by the Hazelwood Supreme Court decision.
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Featured Opportunities:
The News Literacy Project hosts the “Election 2024: Are you informed or influenced?” free webinar on Feb. 29.
PBS News Hour’s Student Reporting Lab hosts “Ask a Pro: Career Hour with SRL” on March 5.
Warner Bro Discovery (CNN) posted its summer 2024 internship openings.
For those in New York, register for a free, in-person panel on “Journalism: What You Need To Succeed” by the Center for Communication on March 13.
SPJ Northeast High School Summer Journalism Institute accepts applications for a four-day cohort in Boston until March 20.
The International Center for Journalists seeks a paid program intern to work on international programs, coordinate travel, research media innovation and more.