Thursday marks Student Press Freedom Day, a time to draw attention to both the work of student journalists and the barriers they face across the U.S. The theme for this year, in reference to the censorship and frequent stonewalling of student journalists, is “Unmute Yourself.
As student journalists, we’re oftentimes not seen as “real journalists.” Many student journalists are not compensated — either in the form of stipends or class credit — for their work in student media. The fact that some of us are not full “adults” with shiny, framed diplomas can make sources and institutions feel as though they can snub us, control the content of our articles or, overall, not treat us the same as they would veteran reporters in the field. However, dealing with unruly sources and pushing through to produce an article is a surefire sign of a tried and true journalist, regardless of the individual’s status as a student.
Student journalism is valid journalism, and it holds an incredibly important place at Ohio University. It helps keep our fellow students in the know about their campus, and it is the best possible form of experiential learning for those who want to pursue journalism — or even those who just want to expand their skill set.
This Student Press Freedom Day, I am grateful to each and every staff at The Post. The Post would not be what it is without the coming together of every individual on our staff. There’s over 150 of us.
Additionally, I encourage our readers to join The Post staff in celebrating our work this Student Press Freedom Day. Enjoy the special projects that we take the time to code, do more in-depth reporting for and present with more visuals. Give our stories a simple retweet or share on Facebook, or pick up a print copy of The Post around campus to share with your friends. All of these actions are simple and quick, yet they have the ability to encourage the spread of information on our campus and support local student journalism.
Though I am feeling extra grateful for all of my fellow Posties today, there’s a certain staff whose work deserves extra recognition
This week, The Post presents the annual Basketball Edition. It’s the culmination of weeks of hard work from our sports staff, including Sports Editor Jack Gleckler, Assistant Sports Editor Ashley Beach and Slot Editor Will Cunningham. Those individuals cover OU’s men’s and women’s basketball teams, and the Basketball Edition provides a more in-depth look at the teams’ seasons and some key players.
If you want the perfect way to support student journalists and the hard work of our sports staff, I highly encourage you to keep flipping through this week’s edition of The Post or explore our Basketball Edition landing page. Basketball is special to so many OU students, and we hope you understand why through this week’s content.
Abby Miller is a senior studying journalism and political science at Ohio University and the editor-in-chief of The Post. Have questions? Email Abby at am166317@ohio.edu or tweet her @abblawrence.