Blog Discussion: Self Censorsip in College Media. Filak and Reinardy 2009

I'm not entirely shocked to find out in this article that some college newspapers content is censored by the advisers and college upper management. I also believe that it is wrong to censor it. Like the article states, an adviser should be there to mentor the students, and most importantly not suppress the act of free speech. It's unfortunate to hear that some advisers are fearful of their jobs because of this. What should they do about this? Should they have an addendum agreement signed before they take the position that states some B.S. similar to "I the adviser will mentor these editors to the best of my knowledge in reporting the news as freely as they would like in the most professional manor as possible and should not be held accountable for their freedom of speech. This advising of their choices does not reflect the opinions or views of the college or university and I should not be fired for inspiring creativity." ? It could only help them.

So what's the issue with upper management at these institutions? Is college media now trying to be slanted by big money universities also? College news papers may be one of the last printed news sources that hasn't entirely been slanted by a major media corporation or business so it's nice to read the free range of writing and topis that go in to it.

This reminds me of the Jamie Pizzi article in last year's The Sandspur (http://social.rollins.edu/wpsites/immigrationandmulticulturalismintheus/2012/03/23/jamie-pizzi/) which caused an uproar in the Rollins Community and I'm sure almost cost somebody their job. Pizzi obviously had a strong opinion on the subject, and I think it's great that they let her article be printed, but the adviser at the time should have probably mentored her in a way that would have educated her on the subject in more detail. This article caused professors at the college to post comments on the article that I'm sure left Pizzi crying and calling for someone's head. Now if she were educated and explained the implications correctly, then this issue may not have happened. Maybe not though, bu obviously just an idea.

Otherwise this is a great article that looks in to the dark area of what a campus media adviser deals with on a daily basis. It seems there is a lot of pressure that is coming from the students and the university. Students should be able to express themselves how ever they feel, but there should be the reliable and credible adviser there to give them an assessment and the alternative routes to media that compelling and progressive, but also keeps everyone happy.