More than 100 college newsrooms across the country flooded social media this week with editorials emphasizing the importance of student media and calling for donations.

Like newspapers everywhere, student newspapers and media generally are also suffering. So the #SaveStudentNewsrooms campaign spearheaded by the editors at the Independent Florida Alligator, the student paper at the University of Florida, calls attention to the economic challenges that student newsrooms face to produce quality content. At the same time, for those who may not know it, the #SaveStudentNewsrooms focuses on the value of student journalism and the benefits for the campus in which it is published.

I know personally the value of student media. As a editor in chief of The Oracle, at the University of South Florida (1968-69) and the Falcon Times, Miami-Dade College, (1966-67), I owe the start of my journalistic career to the work I did in those student publications, and the guidance and inspiration I received from faculty advisers like Dr. Arthur M. Sanderson and Prof. Barbara Garfunkel, my memorable and influential mentors.

I urge you to join these student journalists and to help them make their case. I can’t think of a time when the work of student journalists was more important. These are going to be the journalists of the future. Let’s support the start of their careers, and the valuable role that student publications play on campus.

For more information:

https://savestudentnewsrooms.com/

This week

Reporting this week from one of the most scenic spots in Germany, Lake Konstanz, where we wrap up the so called SHIFT project with the regional daily Sudkurier.

This is a digital strategy project and this week I will be conducting training sessions for all journalists in the team.

Will report on highlights during the week.

Sudkurier relaunches website with new look June 19.