For the past month, the Media School at Indiana University has gone through various changes. From immediate terminations, to canceled newspapers, to concerns over censorship- here is a breakdown of events involving the recent events with the Indiana Daily Student and Media School leadership.
On Oct. 14 student media advisor, Jim Rodenbush, was terminated immediately from his position at Indiana University.
The letter from Media School Dean, David Tolchinsky, to Rodenbush stated, “your lack of leadership and ability to work in alignment with the University’s direction for the Student Media Plan is unacceptable. As a result, leadership has lost trust in your ability to lead and communicate appropriately on behalf of the University.”
Mia Hilkowitz and Andrew Miller, Indiana Daily Student (IDS) Co-Editors in Chief, said a week before Rodenbush’s termination, on Oct. 7, that Rodenbush received an email from the Media School directing the IDS to stop printing news in their special edition newspapers.
“Jim said that he would not do it,” said Miller. “He said that he would not directly tell us to not print news in the newspaper. He considered it censorship and a content based decision which lays firmly in our hands.”
A few hours later on Oct. 14, following Rodenbush’s termination, the IDS received word from Media School leadership that there would be no more print editions of the IDS. The media organization had a print edition ready to go out on Oct. 16.
“There will be no more print editions, at all, for the IDS,” said Hilkowitz. “So, no longer, you can’t print news, but you can’t print at all.”
Mia Hilkowitz, IDS Co-Editor in Chief, explains the events leading up to Jim Rodenbush’s termination.
Amidst the changing landscape of student media at IU, University spokesman, Mark Bode, provided a statement on the situation:
“Indiana University Bloomington is committed to a vibrant and independent student media ecosystem. As part of the 2024 Action Plan for Student Media, the campus is shifting resources from print to digital media, prioritizing student experiences that are more consistent with today’s digital-first media environment while also addressing a longstanding structural deficit at the Indiana Daily Student. Editorial control remains fully with IDS leadership, and the university will continue to work closely with them to ensure the strength, sustainability and independence of student media at IU.”
Hilkowitz and Miller consider the IDS editorially independent, but they did not agree with the statement entirely.
“I would agree that we are still editorially independent,” said Hilkowitz. “I think what might be inaccurate about that statement is that the University respects that.”
Hilkowitz and Miller are not the only ones who hold this viewpoint. Students, IU Alumni, and parents sparked discourse on social media about the termination of Rodenbush and the cancelation of all IDS print editions.
“This is terrible and so upsetting. Who can we contact at the university to express our disappointment?” Said one user under an IDS Instagram post announcing the termination of Rodenbush.
“Is there anything we can do? I was former editor of IUSB’s student newspaper, the actions of the university are disappointing to say the least. I stand by IDS’s fight to get back on the newsstands!” Said another user under an IDS post announcing the cancelation of all IDS print editions.
Andrew Miller and Mia Hilkowitz, IDS Co-Editors in Chief, talk about students being involved in campus decisions regarding the IDS.
The changes to the media landscape at IU received national attention, with news outlets like The Washington Post covering the story. However, this story is long from over.
On October 30, the University backtracked on its decision to cut all print editions of the IDS according to a letter to the editors from IU Bloomington Chancellor, David Reingold.
“I have authorized the financial office to allow the IDS, under the supervision of The Media School, to use their established budget through June 30, 2026, as the editors see fit — so long as they remain true to their budgetary parameters,” wrote Reingold in his letter to the editors.
It was confirmed later in the day by a Media School administrator this means the IDS can continue to publish print editions, and the IDS plans on doing exactly that.
“This decision was the correct call, and we’re glad it’s been made,” wrote Hilkowitz and Miller in their article, LETTER FROM THE EDITORS: IDS to continue printing after IU reverses course. “After weeks of negative publicity for the university, of fears in our newsroom and on campus, of confusion, of pushback, we’re now on a solid trajectory toward real solutions for student media.”
However, the IDS is still concerned about being involved in decisions the University makes involving student media outlets.
“In his letter, Reingold said he wanted to reaffirm his commitment to ensuring ‘IDS leaders will have a seat at the table as we develop a plan for future operations.’ But so far, we’ve seen no action from him or other campus administrators to engage with us,” wrote Hilkowitz and Miller.
Despite the unknown, the IDS will keep reporting and the next print edition is scheduled to hit the newspaper stands on Nov. 20.
