Hostility toward student media needs to stop. Recently, attacks on the Indiana Daily Student have reached an unprecedented level.
Last week, Indiana University’s Media School Dean David Tolchinsky fired IDS adviser Jim Rodenbush after he refused to censor the newspaper, according to IDS. Rodenbush posted his termination notice on LinkedIn, part of it read “your lack of leadership and ability to work in alignment with the University’s direction for the Student Media Plan is unacceptable.”
The dean, on behalf of the IU media school, directed the IDS to not include news in the homecoming issue of the paper, which IDS said was “in defiance of our editorial independence and the Student Media Charter.”
IU’s student media charter, last updated on Oct. 20, 2005, says, “The chief editors or leaders determine editorial content without prior review by the Director of Student Media, the Dean of the School of Journalism, the Student Media Board or any other faculty or administrative members or organizations of Indiana University… However, final editorial responsibility for all content rests with the chief student editors or leaders.”
Student journalists actively work to make the media landscape a better place for everyone — they are the next great thing. Unfortunately, their ability to become amazing is being hindered by people who do not understand the value in journalism. As a student journalist and editor, I believe we have enough on our plates. I cannot imagine being in the shoes of the IDS. The Reflector did move some issues to online only this semester but that was our choice, voted on by our editorial board. The IDS has been forced to suspend their print operations against their will. What is going on with the IDS is an example of the many unique challenges which face student journalists.
There have been a few times during my tenure at The Reflector, and I am sure other student journalists can relate, to where the administration tries to treat the student newspaper as a public relations outlet. Part of the job of a student journalist is to be defiant. The university wants their news on the front, regardless of whether it is newsworthy enough to be featured.
IU’s issues run deeper than what most media students face, or should face. Last year, then Lt. Gov.-elect Micah Beckwith threatened the IDS on X over the front page, saying “this type of elitist leftist propaganda needs to stop or we will be happy to stop it for them.” He also said “your tax dollars at work” and called the paper “woke propaganda” in the same post, which are typical political jabs. It is funny because without context, it would seem he was on the front page with how he felt attacked. Instead, it was an illustration of Donald Trump with anti-Trump quotes.
Over the summer, Gov. Mike Braun replaced all three IU alumni-elected board members, and replaced two with conservatives without alumni consideration, according to WFYI. Education is a core Hoosier value, however politics should not be mixed into it. As if Indiana is not red enough to where the people we elect and the policies they put in place actually start to hurt us and move our state backwards by 20 years — they are concerned about the one thing Indiana values most coming back to haunt them. There will be victories and failures, just accept it — that is politics. Student media is not indoctrinating people. Instead, it is a way for the next generation of professionals to be educated in what they want to do.
Everyone deserves the right to an education, especially if they are paying for it. Let student media do their job like any other track. We are all here trying to learn and playing with our ability to do so is a disservice.
