2021 Meeting Minutes

WSU Board of Student Media
Regular Meeting – Board Minutes
4:15 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 28, 2021


Board members in attendance: Loren Negron, Taylor Gonzales, Benjamin Shors, Lorena O’English, Matt Haugen, Richard Miller, Emma Ledbetter, and Trinity Watkins. Staff: K. Denise Boyd and Nick Gibson

The board meeting was held online.

1. Called to order at 4:17 p.m. by Lorena O’English, chair

2. Approval of minutes from Sept. 30. - approved as written

3. Confirmation of appointment:

Yearbook / Trinity Watkins – approved by board vote

4. Reports

Daily Evergreen editor-in-chief Loren Negron
• Halloween Edition on stands today, staff had fun with it
• Commencement edition coming out in December
• Editor applications are coming in
• National Fall Media Convention- several staff members attended online and got a lot out of the event
• Roots edition will start running twice a week beginning Nov. 8.
• Emma Ledbetter is now the news editor

Advertising manager Taylor Gonzales
• Planned Parenthood ads will run again next week
• We have been very busy with print ads!
• Providing the analytics from our SNO software to our advertisers – provides them with an overview of how their ads are being viewed
• Hebba has been fast with the turnaround ads for the newspaper, doing a great job
• Wilbur-Ellis has agreed to run two months of top banner ads and four weeks of social media ads
• Ad manager is taking over job of posting social media ads, which streamlines procedure

Yearbook editor Trinity Watkins
• Hired two section editors, a photographer, and an assistant
• Our head designer resigned last month – great loss for the yearbook
• Using an Excel spreadsheet that details our plan, assignments; all the staff has access. Will save document to the server for future editors – great tool to pass down
• 74 of the 224 pages have been assigned content. The photos are ready to go
• Yearbook staff meets from 2:30-4:30 Fridays

Creative manager Hebba Debbek – given by Richard Miller
• Working on logos, and special edition covers for the newsroom
• Updating the religious directory and classifieds
• Creating graphics for the newsroom
• Supporting newsroom and advertising for last-minute ads

Fiscal specialist K. Denise Boyd
• Projected FY22 balance is $8,602
• Retail/print advertising is better than expected
• Chinook yearbook sales are 620. Last year, they were 616
5. New business
Future of Business & Finance position? Possible options:
 Find another business representative
 Open the position to faculty/staff/students
 Seek a community member
The board voted to fill the position with another business representative from the university

6. Public Comment: none given

The meeting adjourned at 4:42pm

Minutes taken by K. Denise Boyd

WSU Board of Student Media
Board Minutes
4:15 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 30, 2021


Board members in attendance: Loren Negron, Taylor Gonzales, Reanne Chilton, Celine Guzman, Benjamin Shors, Emma Ledbetter, Josh Babcock, Lorena O’English, Matt Haugen and Richard Miller. Not present: Hebba Debbek, Trinity Watkins and Geoffrey Thatcher. Staff: K. Denise Boyd. Guests: Dita Lamdjani, Aarik Long, Nick Gibson, Bine Traore and Alexandra Osborne.

The board meeting was held online.

1. Called to order at 4:14 p.m. by Lorena O’English, chair

2. Minutes from April 29 approved as written

3. Introduction of new board members

4. Confirmation of three student managers:

• Advertising: Taylor Gonzales. Presentation to the board by Taylor. Unanimously confirmed by board.
• Graphics: Hebba Debbek. Not present. Richard Miller read an email from Hebba, and several students praised her work. Unanimously confirmed by board.
• Yearbook: Trinity Watkins. Not present. Election postponed until the next board meeting on Oct. 28.

5. Reports

Daily Evergreen editor-in-chief Loren Negron
• All-staff meeting held on Sundays (30-40 staff present).
• Sports editions have been our focus.
• Hebba Debbek has been doing a great job with the covers.
• Special edition on mental health shared many personal and meaningful stories.
• Sandi Kobiesa, managing editor, was a great help with putting together the special edition.
• Staff shortages were alleviated by recruiting efforts, and newsroom has a lot of new members.
• Finishing papers well before production deadlines.

Advertising manager Taylor Gonzales
• Planned Parenthood advertising every week until the end of the academic year.
• Currently working with Wilbur-Ellis.
• Local businesses have shown more interest in advertising.

Yearbook editor Trinity Watkins – no report

Creative manager Hebba Debbek – no report

Fiscal specialist K. Denise Boyd
• Projected FY22 is $21,102.
• Student Referendum Fee projection will be reduced on our September budget due to decrease in enrollment.
• Graphics and yearbook are going to be hiring staff. Once the positions have been filled, the budget will reflect the increase in expenses.
• Student Media Reserves balance as of Sept. 30 $96,675.

6. New business
• Future of Business & Finance position? Possible options:
o Find another business representative
o Open the position to faculty/staff/students
o Seek a community member
• The board discussed the options and members were asked to bring their thoughts to the next board meeting on Oct. 28.

The meeting adjourned at 4:55 p.m.

Minutes taken by K. Denise Boyd

WSU Board of Student Media
Special Meeting – Board Minutes
4:15 p.m. Thursday, April 29, 2021

Board members in attendance: Emma Ledbetter, Andrew Kalahar, Danielle Dennehy, Alicia Booth, Rachel Wong, Joel Aleman, Josh Babcock, Lorena O’English, Henry Dien, Matt Haugen, Benjamin Shors and Richard Miller. Staff: K. Denise Boyd, Diana Rios, Loren Negron and Brian Shuffield

The board meeting was held online.

1. Called to order at 4:15 p.m. by Lorena O’English, chair

2. Approval of minutes from April 15 and 25

3. New Business – Brian Shuffield, executive director, Student Involvement

• University is looking for way to allow stipend direct deposit

4. Reports

Daily Evergreen editor-in-chief Emma Ledbetter
• April 29 last paper of the semester
• Summer coverage starting in two weeks
• Staff awards given to editors
• Summer will be online Monday, Wednesday, and Friday
• Fall 2021 print will be weekly

Advertising manager Andrew Kalahar
• Strong sales for the finish of the semester
• BECU and Gesa Credit Union new advertisers
• Shout out to Henry Dien for a great job

Yearbook editor Danielle Dennehy
• The yearbook was completed a week ago, waiting on proof
• The pictures had to be refined due to low quality
• Next year, the editor should get more student staff

Creative manager Henry Dien
• Wrapped things up, appreciate the opportunity to work at Student Media

Fiscal specialist K. Denise Boyd
• Projected FY2021 as of March 2021 is a positive $35,362

5. Discussion of having an ASWSU member as an editor
• After discussion, the fall EIC said she will not seek a waiver to allow an ASWSU member to be a section editor, obviating the need for board action.

The meeting adjourned at 4:59 p.m.

Minutes were taken by K. Denise Boyd

WSU Board of Student Media
Special Meeting – Board Minutes
4:15 p.m. Thursday, April 15, 2021


Board members in attendance:

Richard Miller, Andrew Kalahar, Emma Ledbetter, Danielle Dennehy, Alicia Booth, Matt Haugen, Karen Breese, Josh Babcock, Rachel Wong, Lorena O'English, Sarah Gorrell

Guests: Brian Shuffield, Alana Lackner, Dorothy Greenhalge, Jacqui Thomasson, Diana Rios, Aarik Long, Alexandria Osborne, Jenae Laxson, Olivia Wolf, Abigail Davis, Nicholas Oldham, Oliver McKenna, Anissa Chak, Jayce Carral, Loren Negron, Tessa Durand, Shane Petrus

The board meeting was held online.

1. Called to order at 4:17 p.m. by Lorena O’English, chair

2. Discussion of proposal to allow a stipend option for reporters and photographers. Evergreen editors expressed opposition.

3. No action taken; newsroom representatives will follow up with director during previously scheduled April 16 meeting.

WSU Board of Student Media
Regular Meeting – Board Minutes
4:15 p.m. Thursday, March 25, 2021

Board members in attendance: Henry Dien, Alicia Booth, Rachel Wong, Lorena O’English, Karen Breese, Matt Haugen, Emma Ledbetter, Andrew Kalahar, Richard Miller, Benjamin Shors, Zach Mora and Josh Babcock. Absent: Danielle Dennehy and Sarah Gorrell. Staff: Tracy Milano and K. Denise Boyd. Also attending: Brian Shuffield, Jenae Laxson, Dorothy Greenhalge, Alexandria Osborne, Aarik Long, Jacqui Thomasson, Jayce Carral, Loren Negron, Sandi Kobiesa.

The board meeting was held online.

1. Called to order at 4:15 p.m. by Lorena O’English, chair

2. Minutes from Feb. 24 approved as read

3. New business (moved up to allow more participants)

• Discussion of proposal to offer a stipend option to reporters and photographers. Most editors opposed, as were most visiting attendees. Due to time constraints, discussion will be continued at future board meetings and in newsroom meetings between Evergreen staff and the director.

4. Election of new leaders
• EIC – Loren Negron. Loren gave her presentation to the board and was unanimously elected as Fall 2021 EIC.

5. Reports
Lorena O’English asked that the reports be condensed to a one sentence description since the time was getting short.

• Daily Evergreen editor-in-chief Emma Ledbetter
The newsroom is on spring break this week, a much-needed rest.

• Advertising manager Andrew Kalahar
Ad sales are going well. The Grocery Outlet is very pleased with the response to the coupons in our paper.

• Yearbook editor Danielle Dennehy – not present

• Creative manager Henry Dien
Things are going well, deadline for yearbook is near.

• Fiscal specialist K. Denise Boyd
o Emma and Andrew did an excellent job presenting our S&A budget to the committee March 23.
o S&A allocation request is $230,216, which extends the initial budget cut of last fall.
o As of Feb. 28, projected to end fiscal year with positive $26,144.

6. Public Comments

• Rachel Wong – Big shout-out to the creative/advertising team for the great work on Restaurant Week.
• Richard Miller ¬- Welcome Zach Mora as new board member.

7. Adjournment at 5 p.m. until Thursday, April 29

Minutes recorded by K. Denise Boyd, fiscal specialist

WSU Board of Student Media
Regular Meeting – Board Minutes
4:15 p.m. Thursday, February 25, 2021


Board members in attendance: Emma Ledbetter, Andrew Kalahar, Danielle Dennehy, Alicia Booth, Rachel Wong, Joel Aleman, Karen Breese, Josh Babcock, Lorena O’English, Matt Haugen and Richard Miller. Staff: K. Denise Boyd

The board meeting was held online.

1. Called to order at 4:15 p.m. by Lorena O’English, chair

2. Minutes from Jan. 27 approved as read

3. Reports and discussion

 Lorena O’English wanted to acknowledge the excellent work The Daily Evergreen has done on the mental health series – great job!

Daily Evergreen editor-in-chief Emma Ledbetter

 Going well, now in the sixth week of the semester.
 The news staff is not taking the one-day breaks but will be on spring break from March 22-26.
• Putting together a high school writing camp. This five-week program will offer training to local high school students, and culminate in a special Evergreen edition highlighting their work
• Weekly trainings are focusing on interviewing, finding sources, avoiding burnout, organization and beat reporting.

Advertising manager Andrew Kalahar
 A few new advertisers, including Rolly’s Ice Cream. Working on a sale to a local grocery store. WSU Marketing and Communication continues its support.
 The weekly Inland 360 inserts now provide more revenue than all other Evergreen sources combined.
Questions:
Matt – Do you have a current pickup rate for the newspaper?
Richard – No we haven’t completed an audit this semester. The results would be greatly affected by the pandemic, and wouldn’t be very applicable to future semesters.
Lorena – It would be interesting to see what those effects were.
Yearbook editor Danielle Dennehy
 Photo staff are taking lots of pictures to fill in areas not covered by Evergreen staff
 Going by Rico’s to take outside pictures of the deck
 Working on profiles, getting closer to the launch time

Creative manager Henry Dien – no report given
Fiscal specialist K. Denise Boyd
 Forecast YE as of Jan. 31, 2021, is $21,072
 Initial S&A meeting is tomorrow. The committee will be going over guidelines for this year’s submission.
 Deadline to submit the S&A request is March 16.
 A draft budget is being worked on by Richard and myself.
 Expenses:
• Newsroom is over budget by $9,000
• Advertising is under budget by $13,000 (ad manager and ad reps not filled this year. Andrew Kalahar, grad staff intern, is filling those positions)
• Newsroom photo under budget by $3,000

Question:
Lorena – Have we heard anything about new security measures for Murrow?

Richard –They have installed card readers on the outside doors at no charge to us. We are putting funds aside to cover changes to the inside doors.

4. New Business
 New board member from the outside WSU. Richard suggests adding an additional position with professional expertise to increase the board’s ability to provide feedback to students.

The board discussed the idea and suggested less formal alternatives:

1. Create a mentoring pool
2. Invite guest speakers to the regular board meetings
3. Invite the outside community to offer public comments at the meetings.

Lorena: We need to discuss this at future board meetings. This might not happen this semester, but we want to make sure we are looking at this for future students.

7. Public Comments – none given

8. Adjournment at 4:56 p.m. The next board meeting will be Thursday, March 25, 2021


Minutes recorded by K. Denise Boyd, fiscal specialist

WSU Board of Student Media
Regular Meeting – Board Minutes
4:15 p.m. Wednesday, January 27, 2021

Board members in attendance: Henry Dien, Alicia Booth, Rachel Wong, Sarah Gorrell, Danielle Dennehy, Lorena O’English, Matt Haugen, Emma Ledbetter, Andrew Kalahar, and Richard Miller. Staff: K. Denise Boyd Absent: Joel Aleman, Benjamin Shors, and Josh Babcock

The board meeting was held online.

1. Called to order at 4:16 p.m. by Lorena O’English, chair

2. Minutes from Nov. 18 approved as read

3. Reports and discussion

Daily Evergreen editor-in-chief Emma Leadbetter

 Alana, the managing editor, is joining us
 About to create second paper of the semester
 New research section going well
 Bootcamp included editors and reporters
• New reporter orientation
• Workshops: beats, public records requests

Advertising manager Andrew Kalahar
 Process of selling ads, with three new clients pending
Yearbook editor Danielle Dennehy
 Hired a writer
 Working on stories about a Greek house that avoided COVID. Seeking stories on professors.
 Many yearbook pages are going to be sent to Publications by the end of February and the remainder by mid-March
 Reaching out to students to submit photos and stories for the yearbook
 Connecting with Matt Haugen to advertise on social media for photos and stories from students
 Attended the newsroom bootcamp and invited reporters to submit stories to the yearbook
 Will connect with Emma regarding stories that might make good articles for the Evergreen

Creative manager Henry Dien
 Communicating with Emma regarding the production deadlines
 Making a graphic for the newsroom for hiring
 Everything is going well with the Chinook and newsroom

Fiscal specialist K. Denise Boyd
 Still implementing the Workday system, will have complete financials as of Dec. 31 by the next meeting

4. New Business
 Richard Miller suggested we change board meetings to Thursdays at 4:15 p.m.
 Moving the meeting to a non-production night will make it easier for newsroom staff.
 There were no objections, so future meetings will be on Thursdays

7. Public Comments – none

8. Adjournment at 4:37 pm until Thursday, Feb. 25, 2021

Minutes recorded by K. Denise Boyd, fiscal specialist