State News

Discussion

August 16, 2012

Student newspaper employees walk out in protest

AP Associated Press

ATHENS — Students who work for a University of Georgia newspaper are protesting a decision they say gives control over stories to non-students.

Students at the The Red & Black newspaper walked out Wednesday night after a non-student was named editorial director with final say on editorial content, The Athens Banner-Herald reported (http://bit.ly/R3wpSw ).

The newspaper’s editor-in-chief, UGA student Polina Marinova, was among staffers who walked out. It happened after Ed Morales, who had been the paper’s editorial adviser and then became editorial director, was given full editorial control of the newspaper, the students said.

Morales did not immediately return messages Thursday morning from The Associated Press.

Permanent employees who are not students are being hired, design editor Amanda Jones told The Banner-Herald.

“The students have lost control of the paper, and a student newspaper is supposed to be run by students,” she said.

The changes were outlined in an Aug. 6 email from Kent Middleton, head of the journalism department at UGA’s Grady College of Journalism and Mass Communication and a member of The Red & Black’s board of directors.

Among the changes: Morales’ appointment; and the hiring of new non-student marketing and product managers, a multimedia director, a business manager and a creative director.

Jones said the students have also have received memos advising them that they are no longer allowed to make mistakes.

“You’re supposed to make mistakes and learn,” she said.

Text Only
State News

Community Calendar
Loading…
Events by eviesays.com
AP Video
Raw: Train Derails After Overpass Collapse Raw: Rescues From San Antonio Flooding Raw: French Soldier Stabbed in Throat Near Paris Mayor: Person Killed in San Antonio Flooding Raw: Apple 1 Computer Sells for More Than $650k Hagel Urges Cadets to End Scourge of Sex Assault Raw: Gay Rights Activists March in Ukraine Bus Fire Kills 16 Children, Teacher in Pakistan Raw: Pakistan Election Results Protested Raw: Trucker Bumps I-5 Bridge Before Collapse Raw: Texas Deputy Shot by Colo. Suspect Honored Major Detours Following Wash. Bridge Collapse American Held in Grisly Czech Murders Raw: Jersey Shore Reopens for Summer UK-bound Pakistan Plane Diverted, 2 Men Arrested