Nebraska governor penalizes student paper

The office of the governor of Nebraska threatened to ban Daily Nebraskan reporters from the governor's press conferences last week after the University of Nebraska student newspaper revealed that a man who gives tours of the governor's mansion is a convicted murderer who lives at a nearby prison.

The governor's office later said it would allow Daily Nebraskan reporters to attend press conferences but would no longer send out e-mailed press releases to the newspaper, according to an article in the student newspaper.

The reaction came in response to a story in Thursday's edition of the Daily Nebraskan about a man convicted of second-degree murder who gives tours at the governor's mansion as part of a rehabilitation program.

Ashley Cradduck. deputy communications director to Nebraska Gov. Dave Heineman, told the Daily Nebraskan that the governor's office wanted to cut ties with the student newspaper because staff there felt they were not given an opportunity to comment on the story before it was published.

"I wouldn't say that the story was inaccurate, but I would say some things were taken out of context," Cradduck was quoted as saying. "It's not entirely inaccurate, but it's not the full picture, either."

The story was picked up Friday by USA Today, The Chronicle of Higher Education, and the Omaha World-Herald.

The Student Press Law Center and Nebraska Sen. Tom White of Omaha rushed to the Daily Nebraskan's defense, according to the student newspaper.

"I hope every journalist and every editorial board in the state and every taxpayer realizes the freedom of speech violations here," Ian Russell, a legislative aide to Nebraska Sen. Tom White of Omaha, told the Daily Nebraskan. "When the governor's office goes and beats up on a college newspaper because they're doing their job, it's unbelievable."

You can read the Daily Nebraskan's editorial response to the governor's action here. You can also view a political cartoon about the incident here.

Other student newspapers may well want to comment on this apparent violation of student press freedom.

Rocky Mountain Collegian Update

It's always interesting to see how a newspaper handles coverage when the publication itself is at the center of a story.

A case in point: The Rocky Mountain Collegian, which found itself in the limelight this week after publishing an editorial on Sept. 21 that said, "Taser This... FUCK BUSH."

The profane editorial didn't just get officials and students at Colorado State University riled up. It made the national news and sparked debate around the country about The First Amendment, the use of foul language and the rights of the college press.

Here's how the newspaper has covered the controversy:

• Collegian editorial sparks national uproar
  News story on the national reaction
  
  
• Speaking out
  Opinions voiced on Collegian editorial
  News story on an on-campus public meeting on the controversial editorial
  
  
• Threat called in to Collegian newsroom
  News story on a phone threat related to the editorial
  
  
• CSU Republicans hold public petition
  New story on reaction
  
  
• Collegian Editor in Chief's statement 9/24
  
  
• Letter from Collegian Editor in Chief regarding Bush statement 9/21
  

The paper has also made room for lots of letters to the editor and opinion columns voicing a variety of views, including:

• The Use and Abuse of the First
  
  
• CSU versus the First Amendment
  
  
• Editorial incites furor; Gavin Rossdale swears vengeance
  
  
• Misjudging Our Freedoms
  
  
• McSwane Should Resign
  

As of this writing, the paper has received 980 comments on the editorial's Web page and countless other letters, comments and phone calls.

Whatever you think of the paper's editorial, The Collegian has certainly created a forum for public discussion on the First Amendment.

What do you think of the way the paper has handled being in the limelight? Do you think the paper's response to the furor is a model for other college papers? Post a comment below.

His Music, Your Freedom

The Student Press Law Center has launched an innovative fundraising campaign called "Your Voice, Your Freedom" that encourages individual students and student groups to create fundraisers to benefit the center.

Michael Koretzky, a member of the SPLC Advisory Council Steering Committee and adviser to the University Press at Florida Atlantic University, has taken on the challenge by creating his own fundraising scheme, "My Music, Your Freedom."

The deal: Give $10 to the SPLC and get $20 in music and magazines.

Koretzky, managing editor of JAZZIZ, the world's largest jazz magazine, will give you a free copy of the magazine and a jazz, blues or world-music CD (still in its original shrink wrap).

If you're a College Media Advisers member, he'll double the offer and send you two CDs. (Just make sure to remind him of your membership after you donate.) Who knows? If you tell him you saw it on The Student Newspaper Survival Blog he might just give you the same deal!

Missouri Miner: Budget cut=censorship

The Missouri Miner, the student newspaper at the University of Missouri-Rolla, is threatening to sue the university for violation of the First and Fourteenth Amendments, saying budget cuts to the paper constitute illegal censorship.

Editor in Chief Christopher Stryker and former editor in chief and Advertising Director Michele Martin, sent a letter to the university Monday, according to Rolla Daily News today. Accompanying the letter was a legal opinion from the Student Press Law Center, supporting the Miner's argument that the funding cut amounted to censorship.

Read the background on the case from the SPLC.

We'd love to hear more about the case from The Missouri Miner. Please post comments here.