Tough Times for Technician
3/16 update: Check out Save Technician, a web site where alumni and others can share ideas about the future of the student newspaper.
If you haven’t heard, NC State’s student newspaper, Technician, is going through some very tough times. It lost its editor and managing editor earlier this semester and last week published a dire editorial asking students to step up to help fill the leadership void. “The paper needs your help, regardless of age or experience,” editors wrote. “Without student support, the paper could cease publication at the end of the semester.” A committee headed by a former Technician editor is examining the newspaper’s future and will make recommendations.
The News & Observer followed up:
Editors, former editors and the university staff adviser who oversees the paper cited a host of issues that have made it harder to fill key jobs, including the long work hours required and a general sense that, given widespread layoffs in the journalism industry, perhaps students’ time would be better spent doing something else.
Among other things, the new committee will make recommendations about retooling the editor’s job to make it more attractive. Options include reigning in the mandatory hours from 35 a week and spreading the duties around, said Bradley Wilson, coordinator for student media advising and the university’s adviser to the newspaper staff.
Tyler Dukes ’08, another former Technician editor, has written about the newspaper on his blog and is soliciting feedback from alumni on how Technician can move forward.
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