The Oregon Daily Emerald Publishing Co., Inc’s board of directors and newsroom staff are moving forward with confidence on completion of mediation with regard to concerns about editorial independence and the publisher-editor relationship.
The board and the newsroom agree that the Emerald’s status as an independent student news organization is paramount and cannot be compromised.
The impasse leading to a newsroom walkout on March 4 occurred after the board decided to hire a publisher. At a time when all news organizations must take risks and adapt in order to survive, the Emerald newsroom felt its editorial independence would be threatened under the proposed changes to the publisher-editor relationship.
The newsroom supports the board’s decision to undertake a national search for a publisher as the first step in the board’s long-term strategy for securing the company’s financial stability. With regard to the recommendations in the strategic plan, the newsroom is confident the board will hold all discussions and take action only during open sessions.
New language in the publisher’s job description, a result of talks between the board and editors representing the newsroom, secures the editor in chief’s authority to make all editorial and news staffing decisions while granting the publisher authority to make business decisions in the best interest of the company.
With the hiring of a publisher, the board is changing the Emerald’s corporate structure. All department heads – currently the business manager, advertising director, creative services director and editor in chief – will report to the publisher regarding business matters.
The editor in chief, however, will additionally and independently report to the board of directors. The board alone is charged with responsibility for all matters pertaining to hiring, suspending, or firing the editor in chief.
The board and newsroom agree that allowing the publisher to teach classes at the University of Oregon could create conflicts, and the Emerald’s publisher will not be permitted to do so.
While there is much work to be done, both parties agree that the fundamental values of the Emerald will not be compromised in the process. Both the newsroom and the board are committed to establishing procedures in the corporate bylaws to ensure better communication between all staff and the board.