Associated College Press and its partner associations — College Media Association and College Media Business and Advertising Managers — convened a series of think-tank meetings on the state of collegiate media in February and March 2021.

Advisers discussed the many challenges facing collegiate media organizations across platforms.

First, we identified those challenges, and then, in subsequent meetings, we focused on some of the specifics and work to find common solutions.

College Media Think Tank

Feb. 10, 2021
Let’s identify the issues
WATCH the Feb. 10, 2021, recording

Moderators —

Nathan Laursen, director of USU Student Media, Utah State University; and CMBAM president-elect

Amy DeVault, Sunflower newspaper adviser, Wichita State University; coordinator of the Wichita Journalism Collaborative; and ACP/National Scholastic Press Association board member

Feb. 17
Let’s talk money
Monetizing • Budgets • Student Fees
WATCH the Feb. 17, 2021, recording

Charlie Weaver, executive director and general manager, MN Daily Media, University of Minnesota; and CMBAM president 

Nathan Laursen, Utah State University and CMBAM president-elect

Katherine Ross, director of sales and marketing, Daily Pennsylvanian; and CMBAM programming director

Chuck Clark, director of WKU Student Publications, Western Kentucky University, Bowling Green; and ACP/NSPA treasurer

Feb. 24
Self care
Stress Management • Zoom Fatigue • Mental Health/Self Care
WATCH the Feb. 24, 2021, recording

Jeanne Acton, journalism director, University Interscholastic League, Austin, Texas, and ACP/NSPA president

Tamara Zellars Buck, professor and multimedia journalism coordinator at Southeast Missouri State University, Cape Girardeau; adviser to the Arrow newspaper; and CMA vice president of member support

Elizabeth Smith, director of Pepperdine Graphic Media and an assistant professor of journalism, Pepperdine University; and ACP/NSPA vice president 

March 3
Teamwork
Recruitment/Retention • Training • Motivation
WATCH the March 3, 2021, recording

Elizabeth Smith, Pepperdine University; and ACP/NSPA vice president 

March 10
Issues
Race • Political • Business/Economy
WATCH the March 10, 2021, recording

Fred Batiste, Houston Community College

Sandra Combs, Arkansas State University, and CMA secretary

Rachele Kanigel, San Francisco State University, and CMA past president