Is The State News without control of what it prints in a 24-hour news cycle? I found Opinion Editor David Barker’s column interesting (“Readers can keep discussions alive,” SN 11/8), as it appeared to omit the control that a publication such as The State News holds.
While it is true that The State News operates in a 24-hour news cycle, this does not make it different from any other news organization. As stories come in, The State News actively chooses which stories to cover and which stories are not “newsworthy.”
In this sense, the publication does have a say in when a story is over, because a publication actively chooses one story over another.
For example, in The State News article last Friday on the “State of Activism” (SN 11/4) at MSU, the Coalition Against Sexual Assault goes without mention. Clearly, The State News believes that what they have contributed to activism on campus is not newsworthy.
Aside from the alleged sexual assault case allegedly involving MSU basketball players, how much space has this paper devoted to various sexual assault allegations throughout the year thus far?
There have been numerous sexual assault allegations this year on campus, but it would be hard to tell that from reading The State News. It appears that concerned letter writers might have quite a reason for concern.
Finally, as a fellow student, I question the character of a news organization that needs to make an example of a particular student. Are we not allowed to express concern and disagree with what the paper believes is news?
The fact that The State News felt it needed to defend itself is perhaps a sign that it needs to redefine what it deems newsworthy.
Matthew Wrobel, English junior
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