Gannett Empire Invades College Press

Remember that scene in Oliver Stone's Wall St. where young Bud Fox pleads with sultan of greed Gordon Gecko to tell him "how much is enough?" That's the question that today needs to be asked of the Gordon Gecko of the print media, the Gannett Corporation. As if Gannett's purchase and subsequent dumbing down of scores of once privately owned and independent city newspapers wasn't enough, they now have the student press on their radar screen.

The Rocky Mountain Collegian, an independent voice for Colorado State University since the 19th century, is under threat of a Gannett takeover. According to the Collegian:

Student leaders, staff and faculty are crying foul after CSU President Larry Penley held a closed-door meeting to discuss a potential takeover of the student newspaper by the Fort Collins Coloradoan -- a move that could forever change the operation of independent student media at the university.

Bob Moore and Christine Chin, the executive editor and publisher of Gannett-owned newspaper The Coloradoan, attended the meeting in which they proposed a "strategic partnership" with the Collegian . . .

Neither Student Media professional nor student staff were privy to the meeting. Katie Gleeson, president of the Associated Students of CSU, said the meeting was planned weeks in advance and, according to a release from Penley, had been proposed late last year.

Collegian staff became aware of the secret meeting an hour prior through an anonymous tip.

Gannett currently owns two college newspapers in Florida. Student press and independent media advocates should follow events at CSU closely as the situation could portend a broader Gannett strategy of gobbling up student newspapers all over the country. That would be a devastating blow for student journalists and communities currently served by the independent college press.

For its part, the Collegian is taking a strong editorial stand:

The Collegian is not for sale, not interested in a "strategic partnership," a one-night stand or any other form of fraternization with corporate media. We prefer independence, and we'll fight for it.

For the sake of independent media and the possibilities of a journalism not rooted in the bottom line, let's root for the students fighting to preserve the Collegian.