The unsigned editorial is the opinion of Technician’s editorial board and is the responsibility of the editor-in-chief.
The University Daily Kansan’s Editor-in-Chief Courtney Lane said in an interview with Kansas City’s KSHB that this is the first year the publication has been able to pay their staff, a luxury many student journalists across the country are not acquainted with. Last week, the University of Kansas’ student government proposed an approximately 80% budget cut for the paper.
The budget cut was rejected after a petition, now nearing 8,000 signatures, urging the Student Senate’s finance council to “Save the Kansan.” Although the budget cut was opposed by their finance council, considering the cut in the first place threatens the voice of the student community.
Currently, the University Daily Kansan receives $3.64 from each student every school year to fund its budget. As reports of the new fee being dropped to $0.75 per student emerged, Lane said the proposed student fee cut would fund “absolutely nothing.”
Just like the UDK, Technician relies on student fees and the allocation of these fees lies in the hands of the student government.
The work that produced special issues like the “Why Not Both?” Final Four edition and the “Why Not Us?” ACC Championship editions were funded by student fees. The ability to pay our staff for their work is funded by student fees. Nearly everything we do as editors, writers, photographers, videographers and graphic designers are funded by fees that our fellow students make vital contributions to. And it’s no different for college newspapers across the nation, including the Daily Kansan.
Kansas students have been doing their part, demonstrating at the KU men’s basketball game against Colorado with signs in protest sporting phrases such as “Save UDK.” Even their students see the value that student journalism adds to their campus community.
Money buys time. As the UDK student journalists were afforded the luxury of receiving a paycheck, the quality of their work skyrocketed as resources were afforded to them. Their website received 50% more views not only because fees fueled their pockets, but their dedication.
“So, our quality of journalism is immediately going to tank because our top reporters can’t afford to work here for free,” Lane said in the interview.
If KU’s Student Government can spend $4,500 on pizza a year, they can afford to fund student journalists.
Seeing the effects of the UDK student coverage sets a threatening notion for student newspaper publications across the country. Therefore, we stand in solidarity with the UDK and encourage other student media outlets to voice their concerns and not stay silent regarding this issue.
Technician prides itself on being an institution that encourages and upholds transparency for the University community. Covering important issues like the PCB contamination of Poe Hall, Student Government and campus tragedies requires watchful eyes. To keep those eyes open, they need to be funded.
Technician, the University Daily Kansan and newspapers across the country are increasingly facing the prospect of dwindling funds. Technician is one of only a few student newspapers left in the country with a weekly physical print issue. Without continued public support, the possibility of losing these centuries-old traditions and stamps of our history grows.
Defunding these student journalists deprives them of access to resources for students while also endangering the value student journalism provides. Student journalism is not dead, but developments like those in Kansas are becoming the norm and not the exception. If we do not acknowledge the perils of our peers as perils of our own, we are sure to face the downfall together.
