Orange Media Network Advisory Board

Minutes, monthly meeting, Sept. 27, 2022

 

I. Call to order,

Assistant Director Steven Sandberg called the meeting to order at 4:05 p.m.
 

II. Introductions

Present:

 

Mya Kuzmin, ASOSU

Chaya Barrett, proxy for DAMchic

Abbey Lakeman, UHDS

Sukhjot Sal, Beaver's Digest

Lonnie Ivey, DAS

Dakshata Arora , INTO

Andres De Los Santos, KBVR-FM

Riley LeCocq, The Barometer

Christine Castles, proxy for Prism

Alden Micklavzina, KBVR-TV

John Larison, SWLF

Jillian St. Jacques, SWLF

 

Journalism adviser Jennifer Moody was in attendance to take minutes.

 

III. Introduction of board members

Steven went over the agenda and reviewed key duties of the board, including the hiring of student leaders.

 

IV. Read through bylaws

Members reviewed the bylaws that govern the board and discussed the ongoing challenge of filling voter member positions outside Orange Media Network itself. Steven suggested the board consider updating the representation requirements.

 

V. Elect a chair and vice chair

Steven went over the duties of the chair and vice chair positions. The board meets the last Tuesday of each month. The chair sets the agenda in consultation with Steven and Velyn. The vice chair fills in if the chair is not available.

 

Steven opened nominations. Mya Kuzmin volunteered to hold the chair position and was elected by unanimous vote. Mya then opened nominations for vice chair. Abbey Lakeman and Alden Micklavzina both volunteered for nominations. Abbey then opted to step down and members elected Alden by unanimous vote.

 

VI. Recommend updates to bylaws to open membership eligibility

Steven asked whether board members wished to consider opening the board to more or different applicants. In answer to a board question, Steven said applicants for board positions use a Qualtrics form found on the OMN website.

Discussion:

Lonnie Ivey noted the bylaws call for most of the members to be undergraduates and suggested striking the word so graduate students also can apply. 

Andres De Los Santos asked whether representatives could work for other agencies on campus and also for OMN. Steven said this is discouraged to avoid potential favoritism toward parts of the program. 

Mya asked whether the bylaws could specify seats for at-large positions rather than simply allowing for at-large positions to be filled if no one else were available. Steven noted DAS is eligible for two positions under the bylaws, and suggested specifying one be an at-large position. Lonnie agreed.

Mya asked whether, when filling at-large positions, language needed to be added to specifically exclude additional OMN representatives. Other board members agreed.

 

Lonnie made a motion to change DAS representation from two members to one, to add a specific at-large position with no affiliation with OMN, and to remove the word "undergraduate" from sections A-G except for E, which doesn't specify grade level. Alden seconded. This passed unanimously. 

 

Steven and Mya will work together to update the language. The next board meeting is Oct. 25, so applications will close at 11:59 p.m. Oct. 21. Steven recommended the choice be made at the meeting and that the new members would then join the board in November.

 

VII. Other business and adjournment

Lonnie suggested every member bring back issues of OMN coverage to discuss at the October board meeting. 

 

She also asked how OMN student leaders handle "propaganda" showing up and what, if any, fact-checking procedures are used. Leaders said the answer may depend on the type of propaganda and the medium involved: For instance, if a radio DJ is using their microphone to spread fake news, followup would be different than if a reporter interviewed a biased source. Riley noted a copy editor works with the written mediums to provide fact-checking, and Steven said OMN does have a corrections policy.

 

There being no further discussion, Riley moved for adjournment at 4:57 p.m. and Sukhjot Sal seconded. This passed unanimously.