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One of my best friends was in New York City last week where she saw George Clooney in the Broadway production of “Good Night, and Good Luck.”

She (a non-journalist) FaceTimed me from the back of a cab to gush about the production and how it filled her with peace to be reminded that journalists in this country have a tradition of standing up to government overreach.

Just a few days later, that very Broadway play, which tells the true story of newsman Edward R. Murrow standing up to Red Scare Sen. Joseph McCarthy, aired live on CNN. (It isn’t available for replay, but I wouldn’t be shocked to see it added in the future. Until then, here’s an internet archive link that was still working at publication time.)

It’s summer, so I’m trying to keep it short and sweet. On to the news!

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HEADLINES

Profs vs. AI, wowzer video, AEJMC honors, sports talk, Texas troubles

Teachers Are Not OK (404 Media): “The response from teachers and university professors was overwhelming. In my entire career, I’ve rarely gotten so many email responses to a single article, and I have never gotten so many thoughtful and comprehensive responses.” — Jason Koebler

Jaw-dropper with student journalism angle: Brown University police arrests are not public. ACLU lawsuit is looking to change that. | Complaint centers on two journalists denied arrest reports by campus police under loophole in public records law (Rhode Island Current)

We Made a Film With AI. You’ll Be Blown Away—and Freaked Out. (Wall Street Journal —🔓 gift article! )

Some useful, actionable takeaways: How these new platform-driven news outlets are attracting young audiences (Reuters Institute) TL;DR? Put Roca in front of your students. Discuss.

Shoutouts to Iowa, UGA and Bucks County Community College: Student journalists rise to the occasion | Like local newsrooms around the country, campus news faces formidable challenges, but the students press on (Editor and Publisher)

AEJMC is honoring student journalists “fearlessly covering their campuses and their communities during challenging times” with its 2025 First Amendment Award. Specifically, it highlights three former student journalists who (eventually) successfully sued Western Washington University over its refusal to release sexual assault records. The three donated their $42,000 winnings back to student journalists on their campus.

A Student at Brown Channeled Elon Musk. Then He Got in Trouble. (New York Times) 

I like this one for sports media students: I was thrown into the deep end of live commentary, and it did not go well (The Telegraph)

Congrats to The Emory Wheel and the Columbia Spectator! The Chronicle (of Higher Education) Announces 2024 Winners of Corbin Gwaltney Awards for Best Student Newspapers

Texas friends, are you OK? Texas is poised to become the latest GOP state to exert control over university curriculum (AP) and Texas Legislature OKs sweeping higher education reform bill. Here's how SB 37 will affect faculty senates, regents' authority. (Austin American-Statesman)

Thinking about your fall newsletter plans? I highly recommend this recent piece from Mr. Newsletter himself, Dan Oshinsky: 13 Newsletters Every Newsroom Should Launch

CAMPUS NEWS

Purdue beefs with student newspaper

What the heck is happening at Purdue? Student journalists there got an email from the university that told them not only could they no longer distribute on campus, they can’t use the university name and they can’t even keep their parking spaces! 

• Purdue refuses to distribute The Exponent after 50 years of doing so (The Purdue Exponent)

• Purdue distances itself from student newspaper, will no longer help with campus distribution (Indy Star)

• Purdue Cuts Off Student Paper, Citing ‘Institutional Neutrality’ (Inside Higher Ed)

• Purdue University cuts ties with student-run publication (WISHTV.com, Indianapolis)

I reached out to their editors and publisher on Friday — I’ll report here if I hear back from them!

GRANT FUNDING

Knight announces major grants at ASU, Columbia

$10.5M Knight Foundation grant launches Knight Center for the Future of News at ASU’s Cronkite School (ASU)

Columbia Journalism School Receives $3 Million Grant from Knight Foundation to Expand Loan Repayment Assistance Program Across Four Universities (Columbia Journalism School)

As part of its Philanthropy & Nonprofit Accountability Fellowship, The Chronicle of Philanthropy awarded The Breeze, the student paper at Chaffey College in Rancho Cucamonga, California, $10,000 to galvanize its efforts to report on a $25 million grant given to the school by philanthropist MacKenzie Scott in 2021.

IN THE LOOP

Get trained on addiction, take students to Minnesota, or win some SPLC cash

✈️ Attend ACP’s College Media Mega Workshop in July in Minneapolis.

💊  Get free training for educators on responsible reporting on addiction.

⚖️  The Student Press Law Center is offering cash prizes for courageous student journalism and pubic records reporting. Apply by June 30.

FEEDBACK

Will work for journalism

I am now booking clients for the fall semester! Let me help you, your department or your student newsroom with:

• Consulting

• Training

• Grant fulfillment

Book a free 30-minute consultation to find out how we can work together to solve your most pressing issues, or how I can help you go above and beyond in your grant deliverables. Or you can email me at [email protected] anytime. Have a great week!