Student Media
The University of Lynchburg’s student media enhance community outreach and service and develop creative expression and journalism skills. Student media include publications and video/multimedia productions:
- Agora – undergraduate student responses to great books of the world
- Aurous – journal of visual arts and creative writing
- Corporate videos
- Service-oriented media
- The Critograph – student-run, student-produced weekly newspaper
- The Prism – literary magazine showcasing students’ original poetry, fiction, creative nonfiction, and visual art
Student media supported in part or whole by University funds adhere to the University of Lynchburg Policy Statement for Student Publications and Broadcast Media.
University of Lynchburg Policy Statement for Student Publications and Broadcast Media
Scope of Application of Policy
This policy shall apply to any student newspaper, magazine, publication, or other media, including broadcast media, at the University of Lynchburg that is supported in whole or in part by University funds.
Responsibility for Media
Responsibility for University of Lynchburg media rests in the Board of Trustees. The board shall delegate authority over media through the Office of the President. Direct responsibility under the president shall reside in the appropriate dean or vice president, a faculty or staff advisor and/or editor, and a student editor-in-chief (if applicable). In cases where the budget allocation for the media resides within an academic program and the production of the media is in whole or in part a classroom experience, the media are protected under the faculty right of academic freedom as described in the faculty handbook.
Faculty/Staff Advisor
Each publication subject to this policy shall have a faculty or staff advisor and/or editor. The role of the faculty/staff advisor and/or editor of student publications shall be to assist the student staff in the transfer of the theories of publication/broadcast to successful, effective practice. Details of the advisor’s and/or editor’s functions may be delineated by further policies set by the individual publication in a manner consistent with provisions of this policy statement.
Submissions to Student Media
Each publication will develop individual policies on advertisements, submissions, deadlines, authorship, editing of submissions, and any other relevant criteria related to publishable material. These policies will be posted on the publication’s web site at least annually and will be available upon request from the faculty/staff advisor and/or editor. Advertising policies must be consistent with the policies set out in the Honor and Student Conduct Codes.
Content
Material must not violate any postage, copyright, obscenity, libel, or privacy laws. The student editor (if applicable) shall make decisions concerning content and publication/broadcast practices in consultation with the faculty/staff advisor and/or editor. Where disagreement between the publication’s advisor and/or editor and student editor occurs on particular content, conflicts of opinion will be resolved through the administrative structure of the academic or administrative unit housing the publication.
Freedom of the Press
The statement of student rights published in The Hornet affirms and guarantees freedom of the press. Therefore, the prevailing legal principles of freedom of the press shall be respected with regard to all student media at the University of Lynchburg. Accordingly, this policy shall be interpreted and applied in a manner consistent with the prevailing judicial interpretations of the meaning and substance of laws pertaining to the freedom of the press.
Disclaimer Statement for Reproduction in Each University Publication
Publications subject to this policy will print a disclaimer in the appropriate place that states that the opinions expressed in the publication are not necessarily those of the University of Lynchburg. A suggested statement follows:
Opinions expressed in (name of publication) are not necessarily the opinions of the University of Lynchburg. The full text of the University of Lynchburg policy on student publications is available in The Hornet. Guidelines for submissions to (name of publication) may be found (location). Submissions must not violate any postage, copyright, obscenity, privacy, or libel laws.