University loses journalism funding
Group cancels grant after school censorship of student paper
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HAMPTON, Virginia (AP) -- A prestigious journalism organization canceled a $55,000 grant to Hampton University after the school's administration confiscated the student newspaper for not running an item on the front page where the administration wanted it.
The American Society of Newspaper Editors had intended to provide funds for a 2004 summer training program for high school journalism teachers at the university's new Scripps Howard School of Journalism and Communications.
But the society voiced doubts after the university's actions last month. Tuesday, it sent a clear message by declining to hand over the money.
"We're an organization that is devoted to the interests of newspapers and is devoted to the First Amendment and everything it stands for in our society," said ASNE President Peter Bhatia, also executive editor of The Oregonian in Portland, Oregon. "And the actions that Dr. (JoAnn) Haysbert took fly in the face of that."
University representatives did not immediately return phone calls Wednesday.
According to student journalists, the university confiscated the October 22 issue of the Hampton Script because a letter from Haysbert, the acting university president, didn't make the front page, as requested.
The issue had tackled a sensitive topic -- the cleanup at the school cafeteria after more than 100 health violations.
In her letter, Haysbert criticized media coverage and explained how the school took steps to correct the sanitary violations. Students decided to put Haysbert's note on the third page, and give front-page treatment to their story about the cafeteria passing a recent city health inspection.
Soon, university staffers had removed newspapers from the Hampton Script's office, after students were ordered not to deliver the newspaper to campus distribution sites, students said.
The student staff later agreed to run a reprinted issue of the Script featuring Haysbert's letter on the cover in exchange for the formation of a task force to examine the future of the newspaper.
Copyright 2003 The
Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
