The relationship between The Temple News and the university of which it is charged with being the paper of record has changed greatly through the years. Initially, The Temple News was wholly sponsored and led by faculty editors in the 1920s. Today, TTN boasts that it is editorially independent of the university. Indeed, without any oversight from faculty or administration, it is. However, in the vein of transparency, it is important to acknowledge that TTN does remain closely aligned to Temple University. Annually, TTN is allotted funds from the university’s student affairs budget. While the student staff repays the sum each year, in order that it act as a loan and not a disbursement, TTN couldn’t exist without Temple. Additionally, TTN is headquartered in Room 243 of the Howard Gittis Student Center, prime real estate that comes rent and utility-cost free. What is more, each year TTN’s Editor-in-Chief, the paper’s leader and the person who assembles the rest of our staff, is chosen by representatives of the university. They are the Publications Board.

The Temple University Publications Board is an advisory panel to The Temple News and the Templar, Temple’s yearbook. As a state-related institution, Temple University may neither exercise editorial control over its student publications, nor exercise censorship of these publications. The Publications Board’s role with regard to student publications at Temple includes appointing student editors’ supply and staff budgets to ensure that they coincide with the funding allocated by the university and acting as a mediator between the publication staffs and individuals or groups within the Temple community. The Board is not involved in the day-to-day management of these publications, nor does it exercise any editorial power or authority of censorship; these are the province and sole responsibility of the editors. However, as a state-related institution, Temple supports freedom of expression and encourages student publications in the exercise of free speech. As part of the process of appointing student editors, the Board will inform each editor of his or her responsibilities to encourage free speech and welcome opposing points of view within the pages of his or her publication.

There are nine voting members, three of whom are appointed by the Faculty Senate to two-year terms (at least one must be from the journalism department), three of whom are members of the administration to appointed by the university’s Vice President for Student Affairs to three-year terms, the last three of whom are appointed by Temple Student Government to one-year terms.

Faculty

Chair: Thomas E. Eveslage, Journalism Professor and The Temple News legal advisor

Linn Washington, Journalism Professor and Philadelphia Tribune columnist

James D. Portwood, Institute of Global Management Studies Professor

Administration

Gina D’Annunzio, Director of Student Activities

Keisha L. Johnson, Resident Director of Peabody Hall

TBA

Temple Student Government

Nadine F. Mompremier, Vice President of Student Affairs

Ashley Mabry, Speaker

TBA

There are six non-voting members, the Editor-in-Chief and Business Manager of The Temple News, the Editor-in-Chief and Business Manager of Templar, the Vice President for Student Affairs (or a designated representative), and the Student Media Adviser.

The Board’s chair is among the voting members and is appointed by the Vice President for Student Affairs, and its executive secretary is the Student Media Adviser.

Duties:

1. Assisting student staffs in professional standards, adherence to university policy, and maintaining editorial independence

2. Appointiing The Temple News Editor-in-Chief, in addition to the chief editor of Templar

3. Reimbursing printing costs in certain situations

Do you have questions? Contact us here.