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Student Media and You Brian Korte | Executive Director 
So what does media mean to you? You're reading my words right now. Perhaps
later you will form your own opinion based on the commentary I provide here. Maybe later on in the day, you'll tell a few people about what you read
here, and they will come to this page and see for themselves. They may come
back from reading this and discuss with you what they thought.
This is a medium. That's what happens with a medium. Companies that publish, broadcast, print, or announce a message do so for two reasons: first, to generate revenue and, second, to get the message to as many people as possible (which in turn brings in more revenue.) These companies pay top dollar to those that bring in the most customers, and advertisers beat their doors down. Media organizations in a university setting are a chance for students to learn the process of publication, broadcasting, printing, and announcing with all the responsibilities of a real media company and all the support of a university. At least to a certain extent. When a campus event is favorably reviewed in a college medium, campus administrators are eager to spread the word. When the very same administration makes a flub, cuts a budget or two, or sponsors something students are against, the word gets out-- and it's the student media that announces it. Whether that message is intended to support, defend, inform, or entertain, it is up to the students to determine what they will release to the masses. As long as the message is accurate in fact and ethical in practice, the message should in no way reflect the integrity of the employees or students in this situation. This campus has six student media. In the weekly arena are Whim and Tartan. ROC TV is bi-weekly, EXIT 109 comes out once a semester, and Beehive and the New Student Record come around once a year. Each group, regardless of the production schedule, is responsible for the content, budgeting, layout, recruiting, editing, formatting, and any other duty involved from concept to distribution. I proudly thank those administrators on Radford's campus who pick up the paper each week, those who have bookmarked Whim on their web browsers, and set their VCRs for ROC. I applaud the attendees of an EXIT 109 reading and those who get their photos taken and purchase a yearbook. The administration are in a position of authority. It is good that most keep tabs on what their employers (the students) are doing. As a student, I fully expect those who manage my tuition money to take heart of the fact that, as a student, I will take full advantage of what is offered. I commend those who have stood up to defend the student's right to freely express themselves, as is protected by our country's constitution. Conversely, I would advise those who are quick to censor, eager to pull the plug, cut the broadcast and stop the presses to take a moment of reflection... Is their job to halt the learning process of students in the production of a medium, or is it to save face for a University, which not unlike every other has its own little problems? Problems need to be addressed. People need the truth. People need humor, and people need to be challenged. Let's not take that away. For if we do, we will find ourselves in a protective cocoon, sheltered from the truth, emotion, comedy and tragedy that makes us who we are. And that is the worst tragedy of them all. Responses: Refresh frame to view latest entries.
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