While reporting on a deficit, Ohio student paper learns its funding may be cut
The Exponent says about 90% of print copies are normally picked up
Facing more than $20 million in deficit, Baldwin Wallace University is considering cutting the budget for The Exponent, the student-run newspaper that prints 11 issues per year for $656 each.
“We were very surprised that they would consider doing such a thing,” Simon Skoutas, the paper’s executive print editor, told The Nutgraf.
The possible cut to the paper’s print edition was part of a budget mitigation plan after the university discovered that its deficit was deeper than expected.
The Exponent broke a story last year that the university was in a $3 million deficit, part of which was accrued from inaccurate finance reports. From that flawed accounting, the university later learned the deficit was actually a little more than $20 million.
Since then, the Ohio private institution has taken measures such as hiring an auditor, freezing hiring, offering buyouts and considering academic program cuts and salary reductions.
Skoutas said he found out about the potential cut after a professor forwarded him an email, suggesting that halting funding for the print product could save the university money.
The university spokesperson didn’t respond to an inquiry asking why The Exponent was chosen and how much the university expects to save. The paper is funded through the university’s communications department, according to the editor.
Alexis Watkins, the paper’s art director, wrote on the front page of the Jan. 24 issue that the executive board recently met with university administrators who asked them to “work on reducing the vendor print cost.”
While the administration assisted the paper in exploring different options, Watkins wrote, specific instructions nor a tangible timeline for an official decision regarding the paper's funding hasn't been provided.
The 111-year-old paper at the less-than-3,000-student campus distributes 1,000 copies biweekly, with about 900 of them picked up, according to Skoutas.
The Exponent also covers its host city, Berea, Ohio and Greater Cleveland.
“Number one, we’re able to advertise with different businesses, we’re able to support our community in that way,” Skoutas said. “Number two, it gives us the greatest community reach” because city residents tend to find out about the paper through the print product.
Israel Gole, a staff writer, shared the news with Berea City Council, seeking its concerns for the potential loss. He said the newspaper hopes to continue fostering “these means of communication between our community leaders and our fellow students.”
The council, unsurprised given the university's financial situation, recommended students seek support from local businesses for printing and advertising, do a business analysis and consider scaling back the circulation frequency.
“I also appreciate the recent reaching-out-to-us in your stories, in what you’re writing about,” said Councilwoman Erika Coble. “I know that some people have been going to your paper to get local news, especially with what’s going on at BW right now.”
In a familiar scenario, institutions have cut funding for student newspapers to save costs.
The University of Louisville halted funding for the Louisville Cardinal in 2017 amid a $48 million deficit. Utah Tech University’s Sun News Daily (formerly known as Dixie Sun News) faced a 25% budget reduction to cut down “the excess printing of newspapers that go unread.”
Last year, a school district in western Washington proposed eliminating the campus newspaper and yearbook, among other art programs, amid a $12 million shortfall.
Asked about The Exponent’s effort to save its print product, Skoutas said the paper has upped its fundraising goal to $7,516, the amount it needs to put out 11 issues.
Since the news of the potential cut, the paper has received support and donations from alumni, totaling $1,100 so far, Skoutas said. The paper’s latest issue also features testimonies from community members on what the paper means to them.
“We don't think that we are going to end up going anywhere because the community loves us so much,” he said. “If they slash the funding for it, we would still exist.”
Facing a budget cut? The Student Press Law Center has multiple resources on what to do and survival strategies when your student news outlet’s funding gets slashed.
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