IU announces task force to provide editorial, financial recommendations on student media

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. — Indiana University has announced the formation of a task force to explore the “editorial independence” and “financial sustainability” of the Indiana Daily Student following public backlash for ousting the director of student media last week.

IU Media School Dean Dave Tolchinsky announced the initiative on Monday, stating that the task force will consist of faculty, staff, students and alumni. Tolchinsky said the stated objective of the task force is to “develop recommendations ensuring both the editorial independence and financial sustainability of student media at IU.”

Tolchinsky added that the task force will look into previous work, including the 2024 ad hoc committee’s “Proposal for Reimagining and Reinvesting in Student Media at IU.”

How did we get here?

“The Media School remains deeply committed to the editorial independence and financial sustainability of student media,” Tolchinsky said. “This task force represents an opportunity to take that commitment even further—by strengthening the foundations that support it.”

Indiana University fired former Director of Strudent Media Jim Rodenbush last week after he reportedly refused to comply with an order to not include any news in the Oct. 16 Homecoming edition. Rodenbush’s dismissal sparked First Amendment concerns from IU faculty and staff.

Following Rodenbush’s firing, the Indiana Daily Student confirmed that Indiana University had “fully cut print, including our special editions.”

Members of the task force will be appointed at a later time alongside an update timeline.