Move Over, AP
Students create CSU wire service to share news stories
By
Colleen Fischer
Of the SLUG! Staff
Last fall, when Scott Dallas, then opinion editor for the Golden
Gater, had space to fill in the paper, he'd scan U-wire, the national
university wire service, looking for local college news. But most of the
stories on the Chicago-based service were irrelevant to San Francisco State
students.
If only, he thought, he could tap stories from other California state
universities -- campuses that had some things in common with his own.
Thanks to Dallas and four other current and former journalism students,
editors at the Gater and other California state university newspapers
can now do just that by clicking on the Web site of CSU Wire.
The new California State University news service aims to "provide
comprehensive coverage of CSU and campus issues" by allowing student
newspapers throughout the system to share stories.
Dallas and colleagues Matt Taylor, Thadd LaRue, Larissa Licea,
and former student Alex Perez began the CSU Wire in
December 1999. They funded the project with their own money, invested time
in its creation, and traveled to other campuses to spread the news.
At the beginning of the Spring 2000 semester, the students took a
road tour of other campus newsrooms, letting student editors know about the
wire and teaching them how to submit their articles.
"Going to all of them lets you see why [CSU journalism] has such a good
reputation," said Dallas, a graduating senior.
At first, some editors were concerned about copyright issues. But now
that the site is up and student editors can see other CSU stories, Dallas
thinks "people are coming around." So far, five student newspapers,
including the Gater, have contributed to the service, and Dallas
hopes more will come aboard next semester.
In a structure similar to that used by the Associated Press, only members
of the wire (CSU newspapers) can give and take material from the site,
Dallas said. The articles are submitted voluntarily via email.
"It's a really good idea," said John Burks, chair of the SFSU Journalism
Department. "Students throughout the state university system do have common
interests. Things that come up on an individual campus can make ripples
elsewhere."
Ultimately, Burks added, the wire service could play a part in joining
students from different campuses together in a common cause. "Maybe they'll
decide they ought come together to fight something or to make something
happen."
Responses from other newsrooms have ranged from cautious ("let's see you
pull it off") to enthusiastic, said Rob DeMallac, computer network manager
for the journalism department. On his time off, he provides valuable
technical assistance to the wire service.
The founders of the service have put up about $500 of their own money to
pay for travel expenses, domain fees and other costs. But the wire is now
officially a student club at SF State, so it could get money in the future
from the Associated Students.
Dallas said he and his colleagues decided not to ask for any financial
support from the university because they didn't want the wire to become the
intellectual property of SF State.
"This is not a profit-making scheme," he said.
The Gater has used a number of articles from the wire service already.
"I was really psyched to use it," said Martha McPartlin, editor-in-chief
of the Spring 2000 Gater. "I'd rather hear about some scandal at
Hayward State than at Northwestern. The stories are much more relevant."
SLUG! Editor Rachele Kanigel contributed to this report.
