WE NEED YOUR HELP the Newspaper Industry Is Dying
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THE est 195 b OCTOBER, 8, 2012 POST THE STUDENT-RUN INDEPENDENT NEWSPAPER ISSUE 6, VOLUME 57 WE NEED YOUR HELP The newspaper industry is dying. Across the country news outlets are shutting down or limiting publication, and everyone is hurrying to find the next big thing. For better or worse, we've entered that race. student per semester would fund us completely with some to spare. The earliest VVC £1TC illlllOS I DrOKLC Advertising revenue has been this funding could be available is next fall, and we are working hard to ensure slowly declining over the last three years, and we've reached a point where it that our ability to produce content and our editorial policies are protected from would be irresponsible to continue on the same track. fickle student politics. This is your money; make us work for it. We believe we will be faithful stewards, but we also know that far too often Our financial situation is dire. these decisions are made without any real student input. Projections for the rest of the semester show little hope of profit. We are currently scaling back our print run and our staff has taken a 50 percent pay cut to buy us time. Even with these measures in place, we will be lucky if we So we are asking for your feedback. can keep printing through November. We would cut printing entirely, but we Tell us what works and what doesn't, remind us of the stories we missed and let us know if you enjoyed something. can't afford to. Our advertising team is working at full steam to bring in new businesses and we can't afford to squander any potential source of revenue. We will print as long as we can support it and no longer. We aren't asking you to buy into an antiquated model. We are committed to redefinition and innovation. Our staff has been challenged to think of the next few months as an experiment. Circumstance has forced US out Online ad revenue is virtually of our old mindset and now it's anything goes. We want your Ill/nCXlS LeilL« Larger newspapers are restricting online content ideas. We are certain that the future of news media won't be invented by mar to paid subscribers, but this ignores the root of problem, and is antithetical to keting whizzes or the struggling news monoliths. It will be built and perfected one of the core values of news: That it be readily available and easily dispersed. right here, by students like us. We think there's a better way. News is no longer one-way. We believe that news outlets are Already the discussions have begun in the office about what comes next. We essential members of a community and not outside are narrowing our sights and trimming back; the next few months will be observers. The future of news media lies in open doors and engaging trying. There is no way for us to continue providing the breadth and depth of dialogue, in and out of the newsroom. The most important part of this is that coverage we had been, and honestly, that is a damn shame. It is unfortunate for it is no longer journalists who will dictate the form of news media. Rather, all us as journalists and it is unfortunate for all of us in the UWM community. news becomes collaborative as together we work to chronicle and interpret our shared community. We Challenge yOU to look back at our work from this last month and decide for yourself whether you are better off with or without us. The Post is entering a critical transition, and we are both preceded and will be We tell your stories. followed by major newspapers everywhere. We are abandoning an old model and setting sail without a map for someplace better. Steve Buttry, an online Never before in our 56 year history have we pursued a student-fee subsidized media commentator, perhaps put the situation best in his essay, "Students existence. In fact, at times we have been stubbornly leveled against it. We were already consume news media digital-first; student media should follow suit." spiting our nose to save our face. Financial independence is mean Buttry says, "The choice for student media is simple: Slide ingless when it cripples our ability to serve the community. into irrelevancy even faster than professional media that A subsidized paper with the reach to accurately cover complex issues is far fail to adapt, or race into the digital future and help show better than a poor, limited one. In fact, it is what this campus deserves. them the way." We are working with the Student Association to set up a model where a student fee covers some or all of our operations. As we function now, $3 per We agree wholeheartedly, and with or without your help, the race is on. Zach Erdmann, Editor-in-Chief | Steve Garrison, Managing Editor | Tyler Rembert, Business Manager 1 Jonny Grigg, Advertising Director j Caitlin PenzeyMoog, News Editor Justin Jabs, Assistant News Editor I Stephanie Schmidt, Assistant News Editor i Steve Franz, Co-Fringe Editor ! Kevin Kaber, Co-Fringe Editor Tony Atkins, Sports Editor | Audrey Posten, Editorial Editor | Zak Wosewick, Photography Editor : Lucas Hubansk, Distribution Manager Cathylynne Ahlgren, Production Editor S Marquayla Ellison, Page Designer I Inna Zilberman, Auxiliary Designer ! Brad Poling, Copy Chief Staci Scheibel, Copy Editor l Taylor Thomas, Copy Editor ( Andrew Megow, Comics Editor Tim Posl, Account Executive S Shannon Ford, Account Executive Contact your SA representative. Provide feedback. Get involved. Phone: (414)229-4578 Mailing Address [email protected] Fax: (414)229-4579 Union Box 88 www.uwmpost.com UWM P.O. Box 413 Milwaukee, Wl 53201 PAID ADVERTISEMENTS THE UWM POST CTDBER Q01S Thursday, An Evening with Lee Hir, "Response Ai I Director of Bully Workshop: Transforming to Building a Strong Campw V Union Wisconsin Room, 7-9pm Values into Action Community Free and open to the public Union 250,12-1 pm Union Fireside Lounge, 6-8pm Free and open to all UWM students Go behind the scenes of the powerful Free and open to the public documentary film that sparked a nation j If you aren't being a bystander, then you have Traciana Graves uses song, storytelling and conversation on the issue of bullying. I the opportunity to be a hero. Join us for a multimedia to bring awareness to the issue of conversation about real issues. Leave with bullying on college campuses and empc new skills. participants to become "Upstanders" wi invested in creating an environment where i students feel appreciated and respected. UNIVERSITYof WISCONSIN w more information, con UWMILWAUKEE Sociocultural @ UWMSociocul Jnion Sociocultural Programm 414.229.6998 / [email protected] UWMPOST.COM NEWS Flynn's Folly Police chief calls student renters ii WW JLWM "guests" in neighborhood By Steve Garrison Managing Editor [email protected] Milwaukee Police Chief Edward Flynn referred to students living in the UW- Milwaukee campus area as "guests" because they don't own property or pay property taxes, in.a letter sent to Vice Chancellor of Student Affairs Michael Laliberte and the Student Looking Back: The History of the UWM Post Association on Sept. 21. Flynn also defended the month-long in creased police presence on the East Side in By Maegan Krause ries covering on-campus activities and the letter, provided to the Post by the Student Special to the Post local events in the Milwaukee area. To Association. [email protected] give a better idea of what topics made "We have attempted discussion, educa UWM news back in the 1956/1957 tion, alternatives and employed other less ef This issue marks the beginning of school year, here is a list of some popular fective methods," he wrote. "It appears our National Newspaper Week, a 72-year- headlines that ran during the first year strict enforcement and new practice of tak old tradition that began in 1940. It has of publication: ing violators into custody are the strategies since been sponsored by the Newspaper • Gulls Migrate Into Oblivion; that have the greatest impact on the disorder." Association Managers, a professional Students Pick New Mascot First District Police Capt. Stephen organization that strives to address (Sept.26,1956, Vol.1 No.l) Basting said the increased police presence challenges and opportunities facing • Two Schools Now 'Side By Side' has been effective - fewer tickets have been the newspaper industry. NAM has an Observe First UWM Homecoming issued in the last month - but reiterated that nounced this year's theme: "Newspapers (Oct.3,1956, Vol.1 No.2) the strategy will not work long term. - The Cornerstone of Your Community." • Red Flannels to Velvet - That's "I don't believe that we can ticket our way In observation of National Newspaper Homecoming '56 Style (Oct.10, 1956, out of this," Basting said. "The change is go Week, and in honor of this year's theme, Vol.1 No.3) ing to have to come from within the students." we at the Post would like to take a look • Student Registration Increases to Flynn saved his strongest words for stu back at the history of our university's 4,500 (Oct.17,1956, Vol.1 No.4) dents living on the East Side. newspaper, which has been the "corner • Cardinals'Fumble'Away "I view your students as guests,' since stone" of the UW-Milwaukee commu Homecoming (Oct.17,1956, Vol.1 No.4) most do not own property in Milwaukee nity for over 50 years. Smoke Won't Get in Eyes at UWM and they do not directly contribute to the In 1956 the Milwaukee State Teachers (March 7,1957, Vol.1 No.19) tax base," he said.