The
news media has always been criticized by some as being biased, incompetent,
sensationalistic, and too powerful. But
in the last few years, coinciding with President Donald Trump’s attack of the media,
things have reached a crisis point. While the media struggles to maintain
readership and listeners/viewers, it also fails to lure the ad bucks it used to
get. But the triple threat is completed when Trump labels everything “Fake
News,” undermining the foundation of the Fourth Estate and the nation’s
well-being. It appears that the problems of professional journalism are now
being handed down to the amateurs at the college level.
Campuses
across the country are the training grounds for future journalists. It is at
school that they learn about the principles and tactics of writing, editing,
researching, and publishing an ethical and legal publication. It is at school
that they get to discover their editorial voice by contributing to the school
newspaper. But it now appears the student newspaper is under significant
threat.
According
to a recent story by the Associated Press, school papers are experiencing major
cuts. Behold:
·
35%
of school papers say they reduced their frequency of publication.
·
5%
of school papers are online only, with no print edition.
·
50%
of school papers print fewer copies per edition.
Keep
in mind, many student papers are funded by student fees that are mandatory, but
advertising has taken a hit. Also keep
in mind the editorial staff is made up of students – volunteers. So even with
costs being kept down, school papers are under siege.
Part
of it is a lack of interest in the student body to actually read the newspaper. Some are just too busy with school, social life, a part-time job or too distracted by a world
in a digital box that fits in the palm of a hand.
In
the past few years, some major college dailies went to a three-days-a-week
schedule, including, North Carolina’s Daily Tar Heel and Syracuse
University’s The Daily Orange. It
mirrors what some other newspapers have done.
For instance, Investor’s Business Daily now publishes
weekly. A few years ago the Times-Picayune
of New Orleans went from daily publication to three times a week and then it
was sold to The Advocate this past May and was folded, essentially
laying off all of its workers but merging the name with The Advocate.
But
there is a silver lining. Enrollment in journalism programs is rising
again. Students see the need and want to
serve the nation by being writers of truth and history. The country needs
capable, willing, and courageous young minds to step up and fill a void created
by the Internet, Trump, and the shortcomings of the media industry.
I look forward to seeing the headlines about to be written!
I look forward to seeing the headlines about to be written!
DON”T
MISS THESE!!!
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