Changes planned if The Collegian referendum passes

Funding from ballot measure will allow student newspaper to grow with campus

By ELIZABETH LEFFALL

A yes vote for The Collegian referendum is a vote for updated media equipment, an interactive Web site, more student jobs and campus news not influenced by student government, according to The Collegian fee proposal.

A 2004 survey by graduate student Doug Carey shows that more than 71 percent of Fresno State students surveyed believe a student newspaper is important to the Fresno State campus.

Of the 439 students surveyed, more than 48 percent want a campus newspaper published more than three times a week.

Nathan Hathaway, The Collegian’s editor in chief, said the survey gives the newspaper staff a more accurate idea of student needs.

Students of page design and photography will benefit from working with The Collegian with more color, the proposal said. A single issue printed in color is about $390 more than black and white only. If the referendum passes, The Collegian staff would be able to add color to all three issues by fall 2006, adviser Greg Lewis said.

The Collegian is currently printed on 30 pounds. newsprint. According to the fee proposal, this type of newsprint is the lowest quality. If the referendum passes, The Collegian will be able to afford a better quality printing paper.

According to the proposal, additional pages will allow the student newspaper to include regular features like a calendar of events, reports on student government and more thorough campus coverage.

If the referendum passes, the additional funding will allow The Collegian to expand to 12 pages every Monday. Twelve pages, according to the proposal, will reduce the overall ad ratio and allow space for additional coverage.

Along with more news and features, more color and more pages, The Collegian will have more than just aesthetic changes, adviser Greg Lewis said.

“Funding from the referendum would allow The Collegian to keep up with a changing campus, student life and other award-winning newspapers and Web sites,” Lewis said.

Improvements include replacing 17 iMac computers. Many have been outdated since 1999, according to the fee proposal.

If the referendum passes, the proposal states that three machines will be replaced each year in rotation, giving each new machine a five-year life cycle.

Already in partnership with campus cable channel 96, the student newspaper will be able to combine its Web site with broadcast media, the proposal shows. With more money, The Collegian Web site will be updated with interactive media, such as live video feeds, allowing students to have a more active role in the coverage of campus events.

According to the fee proposal, more money would allow The Collegian to provide funding for additional student positions. Reporters for The Collegian are enrolled in a three-unit class. The proposal shows that in most semesters, only eight students actually work as reporters.

If the referendum passes, the proposal shows The Collegian will be able to add three paid positions, two reporters and one copy editor, allowing the newspaper to provide more well rounded news coverage.

The survey also shows that 40 percent of students want more entertainment news, 37 percent want more opinion pieces and 51percent want more campus news.