The Daily Reveille will continue to be a daily newspaper—at least during the fall semester.
LSU Student Media Director Steve Buttry announced this morning the LSU student newspaper will continue publishing five days a week through the fall semester, and six days a week when there are home football games.
Buttry says a decision about whether to reduce the number of days the paper publishes or to continue print publication will be made in the fall.
LSU’s student newspaper has been grappling with financial troubles for some time now, which has led to discussions about whether or not it should continue to publish a daily print product. In January, Buttry told the Business Report that the student newspaper posted six-figure losses last year.
Unable to continue drawing on its reserves, the student newspaper’s future remains uncertain without a better financial performance, Buttry told Business Report at the time.
“The financial situation for Student Media is improving but remains serious, even if we feel no impact from the current state financial upheaval. I welcome inquiries from alumni, students or others interested in financial details,” Buttry says in a statement.
Buttry also says LSU Student Media is planning to conduct extensive research this spring and summer on print frequency and will seek public input early in the fall semester.
“We likely will make some changes in the structure and operation of Student Media newsrooms for the summer and fall semesters, though, and those decisions will need to be made in the spring semester,” he says. “We will set an early deadline for completing the research needed.”
The director goes on to say all decisions will be based on public feedback, student media staff and individual students.
LSU Student Media staff will research seven topics, gather extensive financial and anecdotal information, the statement says. Individual students will have the opportunity to apply for grants that would allow them to research the seven topics important to the future of LSU Student Media. Four public meetings are planned on campus next month on the issue.
