STUDENT AFFAIRS AND ENROLLMENT MANAGEMENT STUDENT DEVELOPMENT AND ENGAGEMENT WHO ARE WE STUDENT MEDIA OUTLETS CONTACT US REQUEST FOR INFORMATION

About Student Media

Student Media aspires to reflect the state of the Alabama State University campus, provide quality content to the campuses and city community and prepare students for a wide range of media presentation in their postgraduate career. Students learn the different aspects of the media, such as writing, editing, producing, and selecting outside content, by doing them. This website is a useful reference for students who are looking to be involved or for someone wanting to learn more about Student Media.

Student Media includes five organizations, The Hornet Tribune (official student newspaper), The Equinox, (official literary magazine), ENVISAGE (general-interest magazine), HORNET Yearbook (annual publication) and The Hornet Tribune Online (website newspaper). These groups provide students with opportunities in audio, video, print journalism and literature.

Students on almost every college campus across the nation are engaged in journalistic practices that are comparable and similar to professional news media. Student media provides a semi-professional environment for students to cultivate skills related to media, creative and business operations while engaged in an academic setting. It is an experiential learning environment that enables students to apply the academic curriculum in a practical setting.

Employers in the communications industry are looking for applicants with talent, skill, and experience. Many journalism programs attempt to polish students' talents and skills, but where do you gain the experience that will help you succeed in your career?

What are the advantages of working in student media as opposed to professional media?

The most important advantage of student media is the geographic region or area that is covered.  Student media typically targets the university campus and its goings-on, while devoting a small measure of space to local, national and state coverage.  Professional media usually has a much broader focus, giving more attention to local, state and national coverage.

The second advantage is the purpose and mission of student media.  It provides students a structured and practical learning environment to apply the skills and techniques learned in the classroom.  Professional media are career-oriented practitioners who normally already have the skills necessary to excel in their profession.

The third advantage is student media is protected by the First Amendment, which has been supported in multiple decisions by the Supreme Court, including Tinker v. Des Moines Independent School District (1969) and Hazelwood School District v. Kuhlmeier (1988).

Finally, student media is run and managed by students, not professional media, so there are differences in frequency of publication, budget, capability, experience, etc.