Minutes of Tuesday, Nov. 18, 2003

MEMBERS PRESENT: Chairman Riley Wilson; Argonaut Advertising Manager Abigail Bottari; GEM Editor Jessi Bacon; Argonaut Editor Brian Passey; Argonaut/GEM advisor Brian Beesley; Argonaut Advertising advisor Michele Kimberling; KUOI advisor Jeff Kimberling; Faculty representative Hans Rosenwinkel; Community representative John Poole; ASUI representative Carrie Joslin; Student Bar Association representative Andrea Schiers; Student representative Kate Heady; Student representative Diana Crabtree.

Chairman Wilson called the meeting to order at approximately 5:03 p.m. in the Silver Room of the Student Union Building. Wilson began by entertaining a motion to approve the minutes of the previous meetings, seconded and the minutes where approved unanimously. Wilson then called for department reports.

ARGONAUT ADVERTISING:

Bottari said the department had been dealing with some incidents involving the Christ Church ads, saying that they could only censorship so much. She added that My Baby is Graduating is coming up as well as a 10 percent off deal for the week after Thanksgiving. Bottari added Tim Latter would be returning as an advertising representative, filling Brandon Leachs spot. Leach will be joining the UI Ad Team next semester.

ARGONAUT:

Passey said that he too had been dealing with Christ Church issues. He added that Managing Editor Joy Barbour would be graduating and he has asked Jake Alger, currently copy editor, to also handle the ME position. Passey said the UI chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists are selling copies of David Johnsons book, No Ordinary Lives, as part of a fund-raiser. Johnson, a reporter for the Lewiston Morning Tribune, has donated a number of copies to the SPJ chapter, and copies will sell for $10 apiece, with $5 of it to go to the SPJ and $5 to the fight against Huntingtons Disease.

GEM:

Bacon said that the GEM staff met on Thursday and they came up with some great ideas for the cover of this years book. She added that she had hired a new photographer and also promoted photographer John Gehring to fill the photo editor vacancy.

KUOI:

Advisor Jeff Kimberling said that some thank-you letters had gone out to local underwriters. In addition, Station Manager Sarah Long has sent out information to local ski areas to encourage them to underwrite the ski report that the station is planning to start.

GEM COMMITTEE:

Pool reported that the committee had reached the conclusion that the GEM could not stay in its current format. However, Beesley said any proposed format changes to the yearbook are currently on the back burner, awaiting the results of a class project being conducted by Pat Harts Publications Editing course. The projects are due Dec. 4, two days after the boards next meeting, but he hoped to he able to share some of the proposals with the board at its next meeting. He said student input and involvement were vital to making the right choice and worth waiting for in this case. The timetable for this years book, under the current format, is set, but come budget time, early next semester, the board will need a plan for any change to the format. Beesley noted that current sales are down by quite a bit  only 166 books ordered thus far this semester -- despite the improved quality of the just-returned yearbook. Regarding to the option of changing the yearbook into a DVD or CD-ROM format, BYU-Idaho has come out with a DVD version that some Student Media staff members have seen. Beesley said going to this type of format would add opportunities for student experience in Student Media. Discussion ensued regarding format longevity, the capabilities of the average computer to work with the proposed formats, ability to find student employees with appropriate abilities and possible technical support needs.

PHOTO BUREAU:

Beesley began by distributing copies of the proposal he and Michele Kimberling prepared (see attached). He read through the document with the board, and the following discussions arose. Wilson asked what the opinion of the current photographers was and Passey answered that the current photo editor, Emet Ward, liked the idea and that the other photographers, most of them new to the the Argonaut, had no objections. Positive points included:

n       Improved quality of photography.

n       Better training for photographers

n       More use of the studio.

Some of the concerns voiced included:

n       Who would be responsible for editorial integrity?

n       Is there a student candidate with the necessary skills to fill the manager position?

n       Would any additional budget concerns arise?

The board then moved into a vote and voted unanimously to add a Photo Bureau to Student Media and to operate under the status quo until semester and then begin the creation process next semester (Scenario No. 2 of attached proposal).

LOGO:

Pending the addition of the Photo Bureau, the board will hold off on adopting a new Student Media logo.

Schiers motioned to adjourn, Passey seconded and the motion passed unanimously. The meeting adjourned at approximately 6:15 p.m.

-- Minutes submitted on 11/19/03 by Stacy Carroll, Student Media administrative assistant