Texas Student Publications

Board of Operating Trustees

November 16, 2001

Minutes

Voting members present: Craig Daniel, Dave Garlock, Don Heider, Michael Hoffman, Stephen Little, Natalie Mayrath, Shawn Rosenzweig, Senyo Tse, Amanda Zamora.

Voting members absent: Sara Beechner, Doug Toney.

Non-voting members present: Margarita Arellano, Meredith Best, Caroline Connor, Kristin Finan, Kathy Lawrence, Rosa Madriz, Marshall Maher.

Non-voting members absent: Karen Fastenau, Matt Hammond, Trevor Rosen.

Professional staff present: Mary Felps, Richard Finnell, Beverly Fisher, John Foxworth, Evelyn Gardner, Jean Hogue, Dan Knight, Steve Metze, Douglas Plummer, Frank Serpas, Jack Simons, Jerry Thompson.

Visitors present: Melissa Drosjack, Nicki James, Ashley Kosiewicz, Yen-Yi Liu, Juan Rodriguez, Caroline Thomson, Brian Wellborn.

The meeting was called to order at 3:10 p.m. by Craig Daniel, TSP Board president.

I. Recognition of Student Staff Awards.

Knight and Finnell reviewed awards won by members of The Daily Texan staff and members of the KVR-TV staff.

MOTION NO. 1: Hoffman moved to adopt the following resolution:

Resolved: That the Board of Operating Trustees commends and congratulates:

(a) The Daily Texan staff for winning fourth place Best of Show award in the newspaper 4-year daily

broadsheet category at the fall 2001 National College Media Convention, and

(b) Todd Berger of the KVR-TV staff for winning the first place best television advertisement award

at the fall 2001 National College Media Convention; and

Resolved, That the director be authorized to place house ads in The Daily Texan and other student media,

subject to available space, expressing the sense of the Board of Operating Trustees in this resolution.

The motion passed.

II. Report of the President.

Daniel referred to his written report and had nothing further to report.

III. Approval of October 19, 2001, TSP Board Meeting Minutes.

MOTION NO. 2: Hoffman moved to approve the Minutes of the October 19, 2001, TSP Board Meeting.

The motion passed.

IV. Report of the Executive Committee.

Garlock said the Executive Committee had met earlier in the day to review the monthly financial report and to discuss a proposal submitted by Lawrence which sets the minimum number of pages in The Daily Texan at 12.

(a) Monthly financial report. Hogue discussed the monthly financial report with the members of the Board.

(b) Minimum page count for The Daily Texan. Lawrence referred to her written Memorandum concerning a minimum of 12 pages each day in The Daily Texan. Further, Lawrence reported there has never been a time when the page count of the Texan has been so consistently small and the editorial staff finds it difficult to include sufficient content in 10-page papers.

Gardner said she is sympathetic to the newsroom’s concern but the cost for the extra pages is difficult to consider when expenses for other areas of TSP have been reduced. Further, she reported the Austin American-Statesman has found it necessary to reduce pages.

Lawrence explained her concern for the readership: 12-page papers offer a better service to the readership. Finan said readers will turn to other sources for news if there is insufficient coverage in the Texan.

Hoffman asked Lawrence where expenses could be reduced in order to cover the additional cost of guaranteed 12-page papers. Lawrence responded utilities and newsprint were the two most likely sources.

Tse asked if a 12-page paper is a stronger selling feature compared to a 10-page paper. Gardner said there is no difference.

Hogue pointed out the shortfall in income so far is approximately $300,000 and to keep in mind these additional expenses would eventually come from the TSP reserve account. Gardner said the revenue situation for the Texan is already critical as further possible expense reductions could result in laying off employees. Lawrence said TSP is “top heavy” with full-time staff: TSP is staffed to produce larger papers then can be afforded. Further, she said smaller papers do not give student journalists as much opportunity. Maher said combining three sections into one section is not acceptable.

Tse suggested including more in-depth stories on the WebTexan. Lawrence agreed the Texan’s web presence has improved and will continue to improve in the spring.

Finan and Maher agreed with Tse’s suggestion. Gardner suggested proceeding on a month-by-month basis and keep clear records on the actual costs. Tse encouraged further pursuit of the web site and requested Lawrence to report to the Board on additional costs each month.

No motion resulted from the discussion and no action was taken on the proposal.

V. Reports from Committees.

(a) TSP Election Committee. Hoffman referred to the current election chapter in the TSP Handbook and the revised election chapter submitted for Board consideration. He explained the only difference in the revised version is that the Election Supervisory Board will handle candidate complaints.

MOTION NO. 3: On behalf of the TSP Election Committee, Hoffman moved to adopt the revised election

chapter for the TSP Handbook.

Discussion followed. Zamora said TSP should be involved in its own elections. Hoffman said all appeals could be made to the TSP Election Committee and the TSP Board will certify the election results. Further, Hoffman said the Election Supervisory Board has more expertise in administering elections than the TSP Board. Rosenzweig said he sees no value to the involvement of the Election Supervisory Board. Little said TSP action on items appealed are final therefore, TSP serves as checks and balances to the Election Supervisory Board. Further discussion followed.

Hoffman called the question and discussion ceased. Call to the question passed.

The motion passed.

(b) Minority Advisory Committee. Zamora referred to her written report. Further, she said she and Arellano are working on a survey to measure the perceptions of minority groups concerning TSP media units. Minority workshops are planned for February. Daniel urged media managers or their representatives to attend all meetings of the Minority Advisory Committee.

VI. Monthly Reports.

(a) Report from the director. To her written report, Lawrence added TSP is trying to limit moving expenses to $10,000 and circulation of The Daily Texan is steady.

(b) Reports from Editors and Station Managers. To her report, Best reviewed the improvement in page sales for the 2002 Cactus Yearbook.

VII. New Business.

(a) Appointment of spring 2002 managing editor for The Daily Texan. Lawrence reported Kristin Finan was the only student who applied for managing editor for the spring 2002 Texan.

MOTION NO. 4: Heider moved to appoint Kristin Finan managing editor of The Daily Texan for spring

2002. The motion passed.

(b) Possible revision of TSP Handbook. Daniel asked if members of the Board are interested in revising the TSP Handbook. Interest was expressed. Daniel suggested an ad hoc committee be appointed and Hoffman urged a specific timeline be established for the revision process.

MOTION NO. 5: Heider moved to direct the president to appoint a committee to examine a revision process of the TSP Handbook and report back to the Board at the January meeting. The motion passed.

MOTION NO. 6: Hoffman moved to adjourn the meeting. The motion passed.