Dear students of MUN, pay the two bucks
Posted on: Thursday, March 4th, 2010
The MUSE, Memorial University of Newfoundland’s student newspaper, is the least funded student newspaper in all of Canada.
In order to help the MUSE in its ongoing efforts to bring you top quality student journalism and bring that journalism into the 21st century (hello online and interactive, goodbye paper),
they are seeking an increase of two dollars in student fees.
Two bucks. For a semester’s worth of top quality, necessary to the existence of a healthy and informed student body, journalism.
This is like a multiple choice exam with only one question and a clear answer.
On March 16th and 17th, vote YES!
March 5th, 2010 at 1:40 am
They would be wise to try to solicit sponsorship as well. I see no ads on their website, but surely some local business would be willing to fork over some cash in exchange for the good publicity that comes with supporting a student newspaper.
March 5th, 2010 at 2:00 am
I don’t know.
On one hand, it’s only 2 dollars. And I’m sure a lot of people could appreciate the benefit from it.
On the other hand, the entire world only just wants a “little more”, such as Tim Horton’s, the oil company, the insurance company, and you name it.
Really, it is not fair to attempt to take this frustration out on that little newspaper, that’s not what I’m trying to infer here. It’s just a little philosophical type of argument about money.
Right now, I’m feeling that a yes vote is in order, if it was anything besides journalism however it would probably get a no. Right now I do not feel that they really had a fair chance to prove themselves. Plus the type of material they produce is something that I actually could get into, and it could be interesting, and ultimately, could be worth my two dollars. It also feels very empowering to have the no option, which is not available to so many things I compared it to.
All that being said. How does one vote? lol
March 5th, 2010 at 4:42 am
As a former Muser, I want to point out that the Muse is seriously behind in the times with being all web two point O – while the rest of Canada’s Uni papers are laughing.
It’s not because we don’t know how… but there is a serious lack of funds. The people who work at the Muse are there because of their passion towards journalism… I know, because I would spend 24 hours in that messy office on production night laying out that paper (who knows what health effect that has had on me with all the cigs/caffeine I’ve consumed).
So, for the sake of not looking like a pathetic province that likes to lag behind in the times (much of what the rest of Canada thinks of NL) give up $2 a semester.
March 5th, 2010 at 4:52 am
@ Rick – You would think that… but it’s incredibly difficult to sell ads online. Even papers like the Tely have an easier chance at selling ads in print then online (even when they’re cheaper online).
Here’s why:
“Hi I’m a sales rep for X newspaper. We print 10 000 papers a day. Our logic is that for every paper we print, 4 people look at it. Therefore 40 000 people will see your ad. Advertise with us!”
Now how does this sound?
“Hi, I’m a sales rep for Y newspaper. We’re trying to be environmentally friendly and cutting down our number of prints and building our online presence. We currently have 1000 unique visitors a day. Advertise online with us!”
Hmmm 40 000 vs 1000?
March 5th, 2010 at 4:53 am
P.S. those numbers are exaggerated.. but you get the gist of it.
March 5th, 2010 at 8:56 am
The $100,000 that MUNSU burned on the Snoop Dogg concert could have paid for 10 decent websites.
March 5th, 2010 at 9:48 am
The Muse is not affiliated in any way with MUNSU.
While I was at the Muse, most of our revenue came from advertising, for the most part, we were self sustaining- however- the media levy ($2/term) really did make a whole lot possible.
Even though the Muse has been terrible of late… I’d still vote Yes.
March 6th, 2010 at 8:28 am
2 bucks is even too much to sit down and put yourself through reading what they publish. I don’t call the muse a nescessary form of information. Wanna make a difference take everyones two bucks and send it to homeless kids or a third world country…
I will, with no doubt, vote No.. again this year.
March 8th, 2010 at 10:56 am
So I says to Mable, I says, “Mable, maybe if they had a little more funding they could do better work”.
March 8th, 2010 at 11:08 am
@mable
Do you feel that MUN would be better off without a student newspaper?
March 9th, 2010 at 11:18 pm
It’s interesting how little some MUN students appreciate the Muse when it’s so respected by other university papers. They get their articles picked up by the Canadian University Press a lot and published at other universities too.
Show some pride.
March 11th, 2010 at 12:11 pm
Darcy,
It’s so easy to simply say it’s just two bucks and that the clear answer is “yes”, but here’s what two bucks represents to me right now. It’s the amount of money I don’t have in my wallet that I wish I did for something as simple and necessary as a coffee. Are you connected to the Muse in any way to want to push this so hard? It’s easy when you run this blog in the real workworld and your beverages come easy, but please don’t take everyone else’s finances for granted and state it’s an easy give for a worthy cause. I enjoy the Muse so let’s consider other ways to keep it alive rather than taking from my hands which are a little chilly this morning with nothing in it to warm them up.
March 11th, 2010 at 12:59 pm
@laura
I feel your pain. I was once a student myself and studied away from home. In my first year I didn’t qualify for student loans and had to do some unusual things to get by, like posing nude for the Visual Arts program’s life studies classes, for example.
Also, I love coffee. I’m like a coffee vampire, I drink so much of it. So you’ve definitely struck a chord with me on that note.
All the same, this is not $2 a day we’re taking about here, which would surely put a dent anyone’s coffee fund. It’s $2 a semester. That’s like, what? Two cents a day or something. Realistically, that’s not going to put any more or any less coffee in your mug, is it?
I’m not really connected to The Muse in any way other than that I know some of the people who work their asses off over there, and I’ve volunteered my services with them on occasion because I believe in what they do and I’m happy to contribute to that when I can.
March 12th, 2010 at 1:23 pm
It’s taken just a little while to rethink things and I’m willing to put my two bucks on the line. It’s nice to look at things from all sides and stop listening to the nay-sayers, in other words, I’m making up my own mind. Sometimes, you need to step back and take a chance on something you might have resisted in the past. Who knows, if this leads to a stronger paper, they might be interested in a few submissions from someone who holds student interests and the English language in high regard. On a side note, Darcy, I believe you do good work here. I’ve been known to dig my heels in the sand so if you could loosen up a stiletto, you’re worth listening to. Thanks for the comments.
March 18th, 2010 at 7:48 pm
@elsam Well, maybe they can sell ads to students then, giving ad space to the highest bidder? (i.e. more than 2 dollars)
FYI: My suggestions on how to attack this problem are here: http://www.journalism20.com/blog/2010/03/18/making-a-local-site-that-can-support-itself/