A donation of $100,000 from The Richard Salomon Family Foundation to Ohio University will be used to fund the student-led newspaper. The university is also creating a new position to oversee student media organizations.
Student media organizations at Ohio University have received additional support recently. A news release from the university announced that The Laura Landro Salomon Fund has been established by The Richard Salomon Family Foundation with a $100,000 donation, which will be used to support The Post, an independent student newspaper at Ohio University. Additionally, the university approved the creation of a Director of Student Media position, responsible for encouraging student media activities on campus.
The Laura Landro Salomon Fund is named for Ohio University alumna Laura Landro Salomon, who graduated from the university in 1976 with a degree in journalism. Landro Salomon worked on The Post during her college years and went on to work for major publications such as Business Week and The Wall Street Journal. Landro Salomon said in the news release from Ohio University that her time working on The Post prepared her for her career, and she emphasized the importance of upholding journalism.
"My years at the School of Journalism and the College of Communication gave me a great education in the principles and role of journalism in society, and working at The Post gave me the basic skills, instincts, and experience to hit the ground running as a professional journalist. The fact that so many Post alumni are working in journalism and communication careers demonstrates that this is a perfect training ground. But equally important, at a time when the media is under pressure from many quarters, and reliable sources of news have never been more important, The Post is a vital resource for the entire Ohio University community. I'm thankful to my fellow directors at the Richard Salomon Family Foundation to be able to contribute to The Post's ongoing mission," Landro Salomon said.
The donation will pay for equipment and technology needs, professional development, and pay for student journalists. Ohio University President Hugh Sherman spoke in the news release about the value provided by student-led media, "The Post and other similar organizations provide invaluable real-world experience to students across a multitude of disciplines at Ohio University. We are grateful to The Richard Salomon Family Foundation for recognizing the importance of independent student journalism, and we are committed to expanding the opportunities for student media organizations at OHIO."
Earlier this year, the university published a news release stating that President Sherman was committed to preserving the role of The Post and other student media organizations on campus. With the more recent news release, the university announced the creation of the Director of Student Media position, created to support student media activities. Funding for the position has been guaranteed for the next five years. Scripps College of Communication Dean Scott Titsworth said, "OHIO's reputation as a leading communication program attracts the best students in the state and is very competitive in attracting top students nationally. Such quality is reflected in the award-winning student organizations devoted to student media. Additionally, those organizations provide an essential voice for students in the current and historic record of the university."