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Student forced to choose between J-School Buzz and The Missourian

avatar by Published Jan. 25, 2012 3:10 pm Updated Jan. 25, 2012 3:53 pm

J-School Buzz
Kelly Cohen, editor-in-chief of J-School Buzz, an independent, student-run blog about the Missouri School of Journalism, had to choose between working for the blog or The Missourian because of the newspaper’s conflict of interest policy. The Missourian doesn’t allow its paid staff and students in staff classes to work for other local media. Tom Warhover, The Missourian’s executive editor for innovation, said in an email to Cohen that working for J-School Buzz could also “run afoul of prohibitions against participating in groups that seek to influence public policy.” In response, J-School Buzz Founder and Publisher David Teeghman wrote that the site will “be reporting and writing and ranting about the … antiquated conflict of interest policies.” Nick Castele pointed out on Twitter that this type of policy isn’t uncommon in the student media world.

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  • Anonymous

    There was such a ban (not just the Maneater, but any other publication) in place by the early 2000′s, not sure when it first started.

  • Anonymous

    As Pam says, this sounds like a new — and misbegotten — rule.

    During my time at Mizzou (Class of ’93), it was common for journalism students to perform their Missourian tours of duty while remaining active at other media outlets, including The Maneater and KCOU/88.1 FM. I’m grateful for that, because The Maneater paid my rent while the Missourian cost me thousands in tuition and fees. The Maneater was also, by far, the better education.

  • http://www.facebook.com/PamSR Pam Smith-Rodden

    Don’t believe there was a ban on working at the Maneater and The Missourian back in the dark ages (early ’80s). What has changed?