Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Local Media topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Trustees deny $4,647 grant for CSU journalism project to study Wellington media viability
Summary
A community grant request of $4,647.36 from Colorado State University’s Department of Journalism and Media Communication to study the viability of a local media outlet was denied Oct. 14 after trustees expressed concern about using board discretionary funds to support academic journalism and potential conflicts with press independence.
Jenny Fisher, an instructor in the Department of Journalism and Media Communication at Colorado State University, asked the Wellington Board of Trustees to approve a community grant of $4,647.36 to continue community engagement, prototype web development and business‑plan work toward a potential local media outlet.
Fisher said the project has conducted a community survey (61 respondents), two in‑person meetings and outreach at local events; the project team includes CSU researchers and a memorandum of understanding with Rocky Mountain Student Media Corporation to support student reporting and business operations. Fisher told trustees the work aims to create a sustainable local news outlet covering municipal affairs, community events, public safety and K–12 schools.
Why it mattered: Fisher cited research indicating that communities without local news coverage can face higher costs of government and weaker accountability. The proposal sought discretionary funds for prototype development, a communications plan, continued community engagement and a business plan to explore funding through ad sales and grants.
Board debate
Trustee Teets opposed the request, saying discretionary funds should deliver “direct tangible community benefit” and arguing the primary beneficiary would be graduate students and the university rather than the public; Teets also raised concerns about maintaining journalistic independence if the town funded a media outlet. Trustee Moyer and other trustees said they supported the project’s potential to build community, improve information quality and provide fair, local reporting after North 40 News reduced its local coverage.
Motion and vote
A motion to approve the community grant request of $4,647.36 from the Board of Trustees discretionary fund was moved and seconded at the meeting. The board conducted a roll‑call vote: Trustee Moyer and Trustee Cannon voted yes; Trustee Teets, Trustee Wiegand, Mayor Pro Tem Mason and Mayor Schoese voted no. The motion failed.
Clarifying details
- Grant amount: $4,647.36. Funding source identified in the motion: Board of Trustees discretionary fund. - Project activities to date: a 61‑respondent online survey, two in‑person meetings, prototype website development and a citizen advisory board (as described by the presenter).
Ending
Trustees thanked the CSU presenters for the research and the prototype materials; the presentation will be included in the meeting packet made public the following day.
