The Miami Hurricane has survived at UM for almost 100 years, but with print media dying, the traditional newspaper is struggling.
In 2022, only 8% of college students nationwide read the print edition of their campus newspaper, and 18% read the online edition. And why should they, if their own college newspaper isn’t even engaging with them?
As much as we expect you to meet us in the middle by reading and sharing our stories, the responsibility to be informed does not rest totally on your shoulders.
TMH works each year to reevaluate what types of stories draw the most interest from students and where they prefer to interact with that information. In the past few years, TMH has added a podcast, redesigned its social media posts and made its website more accessible.
We have focused on developing our breaking news reporting to get information out faster and conducted several investigations.
“I think that there’s no problem with TMH continuing to exist well into the future,” Steven Priepke, the Deputy Dean of Students, said. “They will always have to continue to adopt and adapt to whatever the electronic way is to reach the generation of the day.”
We hope that with UM’s help and by continuing to modernize, TMH will live to see another century, but we need engaged readers. Because, after all, what good is a newspaper without our readers?
Online sites have proven that students are open to reading about campus news. What makes platforms such as RedCup so popular among UM students? The gossip? The humor? Maybe a little of both, but the key to their popularity is the opportunity for student interaction.
TMH plans to continue finding ways to connect directly with the student body. Our staff is exploring the ideas of dedicated student sections in the print edition, news-tip focused tabling and engaging social media prompts to garner quick opinions of the study body.
Changes are happening in the School of Communication as well. Sallie Hughes, department chair of journalism and media management at the School of Communication, is working on a new program that would expand the Community Wire, an independent community news outlet in the School of Communication staffed primarily by graduate students, taking it to “the next level.”
The University is looking to hire a new faculty member in digital journalism and local news collaborations to lead an initiative that will leverage the combined strength of UM’s student media platforms, upper-level undergraduate classes and graduate student work through local and statewide partnerships.
“We are looking for ways to help the Hurricane have an even broader reach…to use their talents to produce journalism about communities in South-Dade county and in Miami that aren’t being covered, ” said Hughes. “From a social impact standpoint, the students get to see how journalism can make a difference in the community. From a professional development standpoint, they see their good work reaching more people, having a bigger impact…I think it’s a win-win.”
But for our efforts to work, we need you to participate.
If our community immediately clams up when they hear the words “Do you consent to being recorded for this interview,” how are we supposed to do our jobs as reporters?
We already have Instagram posts asking people to submit tips and a button on our website where you can submit an anonymous form with information. These forms are rarely used.
And it’s not just students. In the past, TMH has had difficulty connecting with higher-ups for interviews and information about campus events.
So, while we work on modernizing and catering to your needs, you should think about what matters to you. Help us, help you, and in 100 years we’re confident that TMH will continue to deliver the news to UM.