In recent years, student journalism has been under heavy fire, experiencing censorship and defunding on multiple levels. Purdue University severed ties with their long-standing student-run newspaper, The Exponent, back in June, and despite avid student support, Indiana University’s longstanding paper, The Indiana Daily Student (IDS), was defunded and their advisor was fired for allegedly resisting the administration’s censorship.
The Indiana Economic Digest is cited as saying that, “The dual attack on universities and the news media have now put some college newspapers and student journalists at an alarming intersection, according to Mike Hiestand, senior legal counsel at the Student Press Law Center.”
Student journalists and advisors have to be more careful than ever to ensure the safety of their writers and interviewees. We are seeing this not only in our own newsroom, but newsrooms across the country.
As student journalists at Indiana University Indianapolis, we are deeply concerned by the recent administrative actions taken against our peers at the Indiana Daily Student and the firing of their student media director. These developments pose a direct threat to the principles of a free and independent student press — principles that form the foundation of journalism education and practice.
We remain firmly committed to the independence of our newsroom and to amplify student voices without interference, censorship or administrative restraining. The role of student media is not to serve institutional comfort, but to hold power accountable, inform our communities and ensure transparency across our campuses.
Our goal as an organization is, in simple terms, to bring our audience stories about the campus, by the campus. We hope to not only inform our audience, but uphold journalistic integrity, center underrepresented voices in our community and foster a safe, supportive environment for our staff.
We will continue to maintain honest, free, student-run news rooted in integrity and transparency. In doing so, we are accepting the challenges that come as a result of providing our community with freely accessible information and diverse perspectives.
Free expression and editorial independence are not negotiable — they are essential to the integrity of both journalism and democracy. We stand in solidarity with the IDS and with all student journalists across the country who continue to pursue the truth with courage, integrity and independence.
We encourage our readers, alumni and Indianapolis community members to support student-ran publications like ourselves, the IDS, The Exponent and many more. Your engagement, readership and advocacy for free speech helps ensure that student journalism continues to thrive at IU, in Indiana and across the country.
Abby Godsen, Editor-in-Chief
Melanie Contreras, Culture and Politics Editor
Salsabil Qaddoura, Campus Editor and Financial Officer
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