Members of the Tennessee State University student newspaper staff expressed shock and disappointment when they received the news of budget cuts on Jan. 9.

The Meter

Meter editor Cara Anthony

Though a $7,500 commitment from Student Affairs officials came later that afternoon, many Meter staffers were still concerned at the prospect of not being able to print through the rest of the semester.

At a minimum, the paper needs about $16,000 to pay for necessary expenses such as printing, payment of stipends to editors and top staff members, and basic office operations.

Editor Cara Anthony said that while she is thankful for the verbal commitment from Vice President for Student Affairs Michael A. Freeman, he had also said in August that the division would help provide more of the publication's funding after an October budget revision.

Director of Student Publications Pamela E. Foster submitted a budget increase request for an additional $34,480 in operating funds last March, which was denied in August. Another request for the same amount was submitted by Foster again for the October budget revisions, which also was denied.

"We were counting on the October revision of our budget to supply us with the monetary needs for printing," Anthony said.

"I'm glad that with the Student Affairs funding and additional revenue students plan to raise in part via a more aggressive advertising strategy, the paper now seems poised to make it through its publishing schedule for this spring," Foster said.

"I remain concerned, however, that we don't have a full set of plans in place to make sure a budget shortfall doesn't happen again," Foster continued. "I urge all who can help develop and implement a long-term strategy to please do so."

With only enough money remaining in the printing purchase order to print one more issue of the newspaper for this semester, many of the staff members were disturbed by the news.

"I'm angry," said Jennifer Butler, a staff reporter and copy editor. "I just don't know who to be angry at."

Gregory Coates, a sophomore biology major from Columbus, Ga., said, "I think it is critical to have The Meter in print. A lot of times I just pick it up as I see it. It keeps you up-to-date (with) what's going on, on campus."

The news came during the staff's spring operating workshop, where staff members immediately began drafting a plan to raise the funds needed to print for the remainder of the 2007-2008 school year.

Plans to travel to regional journalism conferences have been scrapped, pending available funds. A key item still covered by the lower-than-expected available funds is travel to the HBCU Newspaper Conference.

Last year, The Meter staff members won 14 honors at the conference, including First Place Best Overall Newspaper published twice weekly or more, First Place Best Online Newspaper, First Place Best News Series, First Place Best Editorial Cartoon, and First Place Best Designed Newspaper.

Also, it is The Meter's in-depth research into campus matters that gained TSU the First Place Award for Best News Series, Investigative or In-depth Story at the HBCU Conference, as well as the Student Journalist of the Year Award from the National Association of Black Journalists.

If The Meter's fundraising efforts are ineffective, the staff will have to only produce their stories online at tsumeter.com. Many students are not happy with this idea, but one student says that this idea may not be so bad.

"I think having the newspaper online would be better because it's easier for students and it will save the newspaper staff a lot of money," said Fawn Purky, a freshman criminal justice major from Franklin, Tenn.

"I really think that online is just the better way," Purky continued. "Given the growth in technology these past few years, people use the Internet for everything."

The Meter 's Web site is updated at least twice a week and plans to continue with that or greater frequency. Online manager Micheal Hart said the site enjoys an average of 17,000 hits a month.

Briana Pryor, a senior communications major from Kansas City, Mo., said The Meter is a great source of communication and information for the campus and she wants to keep seeing it in hard copy form.

"I think TSU needs to improve (its) communication," Pryor said. "A lot of students miss things because of poor advertisement.

Staffers have several fundraising efforts in the works.

Donations are being accepted. Contributions are being accepted by the paper's foundation account. Donors should make checks out to the TSU Foundation; put The Meter on the memo line, and send to Tennessee State University, 3500 John Merritt Blvd., box 9542, Nashville, TN, 37209.

The Meter staffers also ask that people go to tsumeter.com and leave a testimonial on the message about why they're donating. Meter alumni and friends have been notified.

Efforts also have been increased for paid ads.

Solicitation letters are being distributed to various campus organizations and surrounding businesses.

In addition, a Facebook group is being established to gain the student body's support in saving the paper.

Marshall A. Latimore and Kimberly Chester write for The Meter, the Tennessee State University student newspaper, which originally published this article.

Posted Jan. 16, 2008