A. Student Media (The Argonaut, Gem of the Mountains Yearbook and KUOI-FM) serves as a focal point for student life among UI students by providing important forums for the exchange of ideas and opinions, information about events, and news of general interest about the campus, region, nation and world. It is the mission of Student Media and Student Media Board to protect students’ First Amendment rights by upholding the following objectives:
1.To ensure Student Media is free from censorship, including no advanced approval of copy in order to exercise their choice to express unpopular opinions or to agree with majority views.
2.To enhance students’ education through training and practical experience in media methods, management, ethics, responsibilities and community service.
3.To provide media access to individual students, student organizations and the community by providing forums for expression of news, opinion and general information.
4.To furnish state-of-the-art facilities and training in an environment that encourages students to aspire to excellence, facilitate their creativity, and promote their development as productive and accountable members of our society.
5.To encourage airing and resolution of Student Media-related grievances.
B. Student Media shall be guided by the needs of readers and listeners. Student Media heads shall aspire to serve the truth by providing balanced, complete, accurate and fair reports and maintaining a clear distinction between news reporting and expressing opinion. Any report or expression of opinion that knowingly departs from the truth or serves to promote self-interest constitutes a violation of the public trust and can result in dismissal by the board.
C. Nondiscrimination Policy: Student Media and the SMB shall not discriminate in news coverage, membership or employment based on race, religion, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, veteran status or disability and shall strive for diversity among its members, employees and volunteers.
D. Definitions
1. U of I is the University of Idaho.
2.SMB is the University of Idaho Student Media Board.
3.ASUI is the Associated Students of the University of Idaho.
4.GSA is the Graduate Student Association.
5.SBA is the Student Bar Association.
6.Student Media heads are the Argonaut editor-in-chief, Argonaut Advertising manager, Gem of the Mountains editor-in-chief and KUOI-FM station manager.
II. SMB AUTHORITY AND RESPONSIBILITY
A. Role.
The SMB serves as the publisher for Student Media including the Argonaut, the Gem of the Mountains yearbook, KUOI-FM and other such media as the SMB may authorize.
B. The SMB shall have the authority to:
1) Enact or approve by a 2/3 majority vote:
a.Amendments to the SMB bylaws as necessary.
b.Approval of operation policies and procedures for Student Media departments including job descriptions, performance criteria and salaries.
c.Establish job descriptions for hiring and evaluating Student Media heads.
d.Remove a Student Media head when necessary.
2) All other business requires a majority vote.
3) A quorum shall be required for all voting matters.
4) For SMB purposes, a quorum is when:
a.10 voting members are appointed and 6 1/2 members are present.
b.9 voting members are appointed and 6 votes are present.
c.8 voting members are appointed and 5 1/2 members are present.
d.7 voting members are appointed and 4 1/2 members are present.
e.6 voting members are appointed and 4 votes are present.
f.Less then 6 votes shall not constitute a quorum when there are 10 total available positions.
g.If there are more then 10 total available voting positions appointed, a quorum shall consist of 2/3 of the votes.
h.When voting for Student Media heads, the current Student Media heads will not vote and the quorum shall be adjusted accordingly.
i.Once a meeting had reached a quorum, the board will remain in quorum, at the discretion of the chair, for the remainder of the meeting.
C. SMB is responsible for:
1) Promoting the mission and policies of Student Media and the SMB.
2)Meeting the first and third Tuesday of each month at from the 1st of September until the 30th of April and when necessary in the summer months. Times and places will be published in the Argonaut and announced in KUOI in accordance to the current law.
3)Managing Student Media funding in accordance with SMB bylaws and UI fiscal policies and procedures.
4)Ensuring that Student Media practices responsible journalism, per industry standards.
5)Accepting written complaints and conducting grievance hearings to consider complaints against Student Media or the SMB, its employees, volunteers and members.
6)Establishing method(s) for and conducting an annual evaluation of each Student Media department head.
7)The content of Student Media publication and broadcasts to the university and community.
III. MEMBERSHIP AND OFFICERS.
A. SMB shall be composed of:
1. Chair
a) Chosen as required by the SMB bylaws.
b) Shall be a student.
c) Possessing a tie-breaking vote, not taking the place of any other board position.
2. Student Media department heads, each with 1/2 votes and serving a term of one year, include:
a.Argonaut editor-in-chief
b.Argonaut Advertising manager
c.Gem of the Mountains yearbook editor-in-chief
d.KUOI-FM manager
3.One faculty member
a.Possessing one vote
b.Serving a term of two years
c.Appointed by a majority vote of SMB members
4.One community member
a.Possessing one vote
b.Serving a term of two years
c.Appointed by a majority vote of SMB members
5.One ASUI representative
a.Possessing one vote
b.Serving a term as appointed by ASUI Senate
6.One Graduate Student Association representative
a.Possessing one vote
b.Serving a term of two years
c.Appointed by the GSA president
7.One Student Bar Association representative
a.Possessing one vote
b.Serving a term of two years
c.Appointed by the SBA president
8.Three at-large student representatives; if possible, one at-large representative shall be a member of the AS Fees Committee
a.Possessing one vote per representative
b.Serving a term of two years
c.Appointed by a majority vote of the SMB membership
9.The following shall serve as ex-officio, non-voting members
a.Student Media editorial advisor/Gem adviser
b.KUOI-FM chief engineer
c.Student Media advertising adviser
B. Requirements of memberships and voting
SMB membership requirements and limitations:
1.Each student member shall be currently enrolled at UI.
2.Student members shall not participate in pre-publication work on the Argonaut or the Gem, including selling or designing advertisements for either publication. Student members also shall not be paid staff at KUOI-FM.
3.Negligence of duties by SMB members can result in dismissal by the board with a 2/3rds majority vote, including removal of Student Media heads from their employment as media heads for “cause.”
4.No SMB member or paid employee of Student Media shall have a personal interest in any business transaction or private relationship that conflicts with their duties unless the conflicting interesting is disclosed and approved by the SMB.
5.A board member’s term shall run from that member’s date of appointment.
6.Student Media heads shall not vote when the board hires or dismisses a Student Media editor or manager.
C. Officers of SMB including the chair, vice chair and secretary shall be selected from the student members possessing one vote.
1.Officers shall be elected by majority vote of the SMB.
2.Officers shall serve a term of one year from their date of election and may serve additional terms.
3.The chair shall note vote except in the event of a tie.
4.Duties of officers:
a.Duties of the chair:
i.Setting dates and times for special SMB meetings.
ii.Presiding over meetings unless another voting member is designated to do so.
iii.Serving, when appropriate, as the SMB spokesperson.
iv.Appointing committee members and chairs.
v.Ensuring documents requiring voting are submitted to each SMB member prior to the SMB meeting at which such vote shall occur.
vi.Possessing a working knowledge of the SMB bylaws.
vii.Selecting a standard set of rules to govern procedural bylaws.
viii.Serving on the AS Fees Committee or appointing another board member.
b.Duties of the vice chair:
i.Serving as chair when the elected chair is absent
ii.Speaking for the SMB, when appropriate, in the absence of the elected chair.
iii.Serving as financial liaison between SMB and business office.
c.Duties of the secretary
i.Preparing and distributing a standardized agenda.
ii.Taking complete and accurate minutes of SMB meetings.
iii.Archiving approved copies of the minutes and other pertinent documents including bylaws, minutes, Student Media policy and procedures, membership list and other necessary documents at the Student Media office.
iv.Providing documents to interested parties.
v.Maintaining a record of when members’ terms begin and end. In the event that the secretary’s duties are not being carried out, the Student Media editorial adviser shall be responsible for fulfilling the secretary’s duties.
d.Committees
1.Committees may be created by the chair to gather information, prepare reports, make recommendations, or other reasons.
2.The creation of a committee may be approved by a majority vote of the board.
3.Committee members are appointed by the chair.
4.Committees shall consist of at least two student board members in addition to other voting and non-voting members, as the chair may see fit.
5.A committee’s term may be set or indeterminate,
6.Voting and non-voting members who sit on a committee shall have equal say (voting power) regarding business of the committee while serving on the committee.
7.Committees shall report at the regular SMB meetings.
I.PAID EMPLOYMENT
a.Only U of I students may be paid employees of a Student Media department.
b.The paid employees must maintain the professional standards, as outlined by their Student Media head, and must remain in good academic standing as set by University of Idaho policy.
c.The Student Media head should follow U of I guidelines for employment and advise the board of any problems, as soon as administratively appropriate, or any problems with staff.
d.Student Media department heads shall be:
1.Employed from the end of spring semester to the end of the following spring semester.
2.In the event a Student Media head is terminated, resigns, or leave employment for any reason, the position will be filled until the end of spring semester.
II.VOLUNTEERS
a.Subject to approval of a manager or editor, any person may volunteer their services to Student Media, regardless of their affiliation with the University of Idaho.
b.If a limited numbers of volunteer positions are available, student may be given preference over non-students in filling these positions, at the Student Media head’s discretion.
III.GIFTS AND GRATUITIES
a.No SMB member, Student Media paid employee or volunteer shall accept any gift, gratuity, fee or compensation worth more then $10 in value from any person or organization while discharging duties to the SMB or Student Media.
b.Discounts and concessions made by a person or organization while dealing with Student Media become the property of the Student Media.
c.All SMB members must maintain loyalty to the Student Media and report any conflict of interest to the board.
