The Facts:
Technician is looking down the business end of the barrel and is in serious need of student involvement. After losing its editor in a policy row at the beginning of the semester, the newspaper needs leaders.
Our Opinion:
The paper needs your help, regardless of age or experience. Without student support, the paper could cease publication at the end of the semester.
The Student Media Board of Directors elected six new student leaders Tuesday to direct news organizations on campus next year. WKNC, Agromeck, Windhover, Wolf TV, the Nubian Message and Student Media’s business office will receive new, dynamic visionaries who will enable the free flow of information on campus in the next year and lead those organizations into a bright future.
Technician was not as lucky. The University’s 90-year-old student newspaper did not hire an editor in chief and could shut its doors in a few weeks without students’ help.
After losing its editor earlier this semester in a policy dispute, the institution has been essentially leaderless. Today’s paper was only in the stand because of what the staff would describe as a printing miracle.
The state of the media is bleak. Students should not be so disillusioned as to think that the News & Observer and Technician will print in their traditional forms in 20 — or even 10 — years from now.
Nonetheless, their mission is important.
If you value keeping a system of checks and balances on Student Government and the University, the newspaper is one of students’ only allies. Even if you just want to read the recap of the weekend games or do the daily Sudoku, it won’t be here unless students get involved.
This isn’t a cry of desperation or a pity plea. A student newspaper’s mission is to work behind the scenes and provide a service to students. But Technician won’t be able to continue that work without an infusion of people who care about their University and want students to be informed.
As students’ sounding board and principle campus-media outlet, the paper is a valuable resource for students. Its value is in its people, though; without vibrant leaders for the future, the newspaper will cease publication.
If you enjoy complaining about your campus newspaper and wish it ill, that wish may come true in a few short weeks — honestly, it may already be too late.
But if you see some value in student journalism and believe students should have a voice and advocate on campus, contact the staff about helping — even if it’s just a comment or suggestion. Regardless of year, major or experience, Technician has a place for you.
A student newspaper is only as good as the community makes it; without student involvement, reader or otherwise, Technician’s days may be running short.
