Jodi Hanauer
IDS Online
A voice has risen among the student press, calling for change and more awareness of minority issues on the Bloomington campus.
For the past year, griot, an activist-based newspaper, has highlighted stories the editors say have been overlooked by the mainstream student press, such as the IDS.
But many people on campus have pondered the question: What style of journalism does griot exemplify?
Readers might question the sources for the information in griot's stories because quotes sometimes don't back up statements in the paper's articles.
Junior Pete Adams, a griot editor and co-founder, said the publication is selective with who they quote for sources.
"We don't quote random people in our articles because we would not be convinced that they would be thoroughly knowledgeable about the subject, and they may speak like they know what their talking about when they really don't," he said.
When asked the question, "What journalistic style is griot, S" Adams was quick to point out his newspaper doesn't follow the standard Associated Press news guidelines, which is used at the IDS. "We at griot are more interested in the aesthetics of writing," he said.
Adams said they pick stories the editors think are relevant and vital to the minority communities the paper mainly caters to. He noted the editors are especially sensitive to stories about upcoming rallies that encourage students to become active.
He said griot places a special emphasis on stories that focus on culture and that are overlooked in the mainstream press.
The newspaper doesn't hesitate to become part of the news, too.
griot was a major participant of the Student Coalition, which organized a protest last January to encourage the IU administration to address minority issues. "griot promotes understanding, and gives people a responsibility to become involved," Adams said.
IU School of Journalism Dean Trevor Brown said griot has made an impact on the Student Coalition in part because it prompted the University to recognize Martin Luther King Day as a University holiday starting next year.
For newspaper workers to get involved in the news they cover is nothing new to the history of the press in the United States.
Brown said there is a long history of activist journalism. He said the first newspapers in the United States were concerned with advocating specific political views. Often, these newspapers were written by early American political commentators who supported one particular party while opposing another.
"griot connects to the early transition of papers such as the Freedoms Journal, started in 1827," Brown said.
He said the history of ethnic press is taught to IU students in courses such as "Race, Gender and Media."
Brown said there have been publications printed, mostly by IU students who addressed specific causes such as the underground press in the early '70s.
But he added there has not been a newspaper that has been similar to griot in recent years.
Because griot covers controversial topics, Adams said, "People who disagree with our policies don't believe journalism and ethics can be fused." He argued that griot is a respectable nonhypocritical publication that doesn't violate any laws.
But with its alternative news focus, the newspaper doesn't attract a mainstream audience.
"griot's ability to survive is dependent on the willingness of other students willing to take over the present leadership when the editors eventually graduate," Brown said.
Brown said he sees a lot of copies of griot in the news stands not being read but stressed this is not an indication of poor quality of writing, but instead of lack of publicity.
The public's reaction to griot has been positive so far, Adams said, and to his knowledge people have been impressed. He noted various reporters from the Herald Times have been impressed with particular articles they have read in griot .
"griot should become a permanent fixture at the University, and should expand to other universities in other states around the nation," said junior Ryan Vertner, co-editor of griot .
He noted when former "Real World" cast member (New York show) Kevin Powell came to speak at IU in the fall, he was thoroughly impressed with griot , and exclaimed he never saw anything like it before at any of the colleges where he had spoken.
Vertner explained support for griot consistently increases. "When griot first came out, the IDS didn't know what to do about (griot) and still doesn't. We're different, but it doesn't inhibit our impact on the University and our importance," he said.
Despite the controversies, the griot editors are driven to publish with a consciousness for social change. The newspaper doesn't have a newsroom, so the editors are scattered at computer clusters throughout campus to write, design and edit the stories.