Indiana University’s Media School announced yesterday that it will create a task force “to develop recommendations ensuring both the editorial independence and financial sustainability of student media at IU.”
This step follows a week of intense public criticism of the Media School for ordering the Indiana Daily Student to limit content in its print edition, terminating student media director Jim Rodenbush after he refused to carry out the censorship directive, and then canceling the printed newspaper entirely.
“The Student Press Law Center welcomes any genuine effort by Indiana University to strengthen the editorial independence and financial sustainability of its student media. However, the announcement of a new task force cannot erase the events of the past week, which represent serious violations of student press freedom,” said Jonathan Gaston-Falk, staff attorney at the Student Press Law Center. “If this initiative is to have any credibility, it must include meaningful participation of IDS student leadership and professional staff, as well as journalism faculty. If administrators are to begin to rebuild trust from the community outraged by their actions, they must acknowledge, take accountability for and rescind the censorship that has occurred, including by reinstating the planned print editions.”
The Student Press Law Center will continue to monitor the situation and has launched an IU Censorship Tracker to provide regular updates as this process unfolds. The Tracker includes prior IDS coverage about years of cuts to the IDS by administrators as they delayed finding permanent solutions to its funding issues.
“IDS staff and alumni and the Bloomington community deserve better than to see the IDS slowly diminished by administrative creep,” Gaston-Falk said.
Our attorneys also welcome the opportunity to meet with any IU administrator or task force member to discuss the law and the importance of editorial independence for student media.
The Student Press Law Center is the nation’s only legal organization devoted exclusively to defending and advancing the free press rights of student journalists. Since 1974, we have helped students and their educators navigate the law, strengthen their reporting and stand up for press freedom. Our legal support, education and advocacy empower student journalists to report freely and courageously. Learn more at splc.org.