University press.  It comes in many shapes and sizes.  As a student at my university, I was involved in the student radio station.  Filled primarily with dead air, or stupid jokes, college radio was my student media debut.  It was fun both to be involved, as well as to listen to other student broadcasts, not only for the music choices (ranging from awesome, to very eclectic), but also to learn what was going on at the school.  This applies not only to students, but to faculty and those living near the university as well.

   Universities are a place for people to come and exchange ideas.  University media is a great place for this, as it allows the voices of students to be heard regarding issues that appear on campus without having to get on a soapbox with a megaphone.  Student government not doing what they said?  Here comes the press!  Tuition rates rising unfairly?  The press will find the answer!  Or is there a fundraiser for charity being run on your campus?  The university press is a great place to showcase that!

   School radio and newspapers are also great for alumni or people away from the university to keep up with, or learn about, what’s happening on campus.  My university radio station (www.kjack.org) and newspaper (northernarizananews.com) both publish online so I can keep up with what’s going on back home. 

   Without student media students who are less-informed could feel more apathetic towards the, now faceless, student government.  Rumor mills would replace facts as the basis of student opinion.  And the exchange of ideas at a university (which is the basis of the university experience) would diminish drastically.

   Student media cannot happen without students.  Both contributing to it, as well as consuming it.  And it needn’t be only those directly involved either.  Anyone can call into the radio station or write an editorial for the newspaper.  Student media is an important part of university communication. It changes with the times, as the universities do, but will always have a place.

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