Thank you, UCLA.
Nearly 6,800 students voted last week to pass a referendum that will ensure the long-term survival of UCLA’s student media, including the Daily Bruin. To the average student, the referendum may not seem like a big deal – a $3 student fee increase – but for more than 500 staffers at the Daily Bruin, it means the paper we love will be able to serve the campus for years to come.
The Daily Bruin started more than 100 years ago as The Normal Outlook, a semi-regular tabloid that informed students at the State Normal School at Los Angeles, UCLA’s predecessor. When UCLA opened in 1919, we printed starting the first week of classes as the California Grizzly. And when the university adopted its official mascot, the Bruin, our copy editors rushed to the Hollywood printer late at night to change our title to the name it’s kept ever since – the Daily Bruin.
For nearly a century, we’ve told UCLA’s story. We began filling this mission through articles, columns and photos. And as the media landscape has changed, we have too, emphasizing data visualizations, podcasts, video journalism and professor reviews through Bruinwalk.com. But while we’ve seen countless changes over the years, what won’t change is our commitment to our readers.
The Daily Bruin and its sister publications – Al-Talib, FEM, Ha’Am, La Gente, Nommo, OutWrite, Pacific Ties and UCLA Radio – work every day to both serve the community and add value to UCLA. The number of students that came out to vote in favor of the referendum last week is the best affirmation of our efforts we could hope for.
Still, tough times are not behind us yet. Before the 2008 recession, Student Media was able to run with eight career staff; now we manage with three. We still plan to give up half of the Daily Bruin newsroom in the coming months to make room for a new transfer and veteran student resource center, bringing in another source of much-needed income for Student Media.
However, the passage of the Daily Bruin and Bruinwalk.com Referendum marks a new day for Student Media. It also underscores our obligation to serve and stay accountable to our readers. As always, you’ll be able to read our online financial statements to find out exactly how your money is being spent, and our doors are always open to any student with a passion for journalism and a knack for the news.
To the UCLA community: from the bottom of our hearts, we thank you for saving the paper and giving us the chance to keep telling your story. We won’t let you down.
– The Daily Bruin Editorial Board