Journalism is important. It’s how we can hold officials accountable. It’s how communities are informed of current events. If you’re a journalism student, you’ve likely heard the same impassioned civic lecture a dozen times.

Student journalism is at a crossroads, however. As paywalls and subscriptions become the industry standard, it’s not easy to run a “free” publication. Margins narrow and every year it’s harder to stay afloat.

The Maneater has been an institution at MU since 1955. For 65 years, we’ve been there to cover the good news and the bad— the big stories and the small ones.

But that legacy is in jeopardy.

As student journalism is at a crossroads, so, too, is The Maneater. Our future is uncertain and we need your help. We’ve exhausted numerous funding sources to keep student journalism alive at MU, but we aren’t immune to economic realities.

We are asking for your vote to keep The Maneater alive.

For a $2.50 addition to your semester student fee, you can help us survive. We understand any contribution may be a lot to ask of some students. We’re students too. But the value of student journalism is priceless.

Students can vote to save The Maneater between March 2 at 6 p.m. and March 4 at 6 p.m. by going to vote.missouri.edu.

MU is proud of its journalism school and for good reason. Our J-School provides students with first class journalism programs and our “Missouri Method” is known worldwide. MU understands that real world experience is critical to developing young journalists.

The Maneater provides that space for student journalists to grow. Many freshmen and sophomores choose to join The Maneater because of our commitment to growth. The development young journalists are able to have at The Maneater often translates into successful journalistic careers.

Still, The Maneater benefits more than just journalism students. Many non-journalism majors have worked at The Maneater, growing as writers and community members.

It may sound cliché, but we exist to serve you. There is no other publication in Columbia as dedicated to the issues and stories that affect MU students. Maneaters donate their time and resources to keep students informed on their community.

Working here is a labor of love. No editor, writer or designer at The Maneater is rewarded for their hard work with a paycheck. The Maneater doesn’t exist to make profit for itself or its employees, rather to report important MU news, hold officials accountable and to give students a platform to speak their truths.

With your help, the best journalism school in the world will always have a space for aspiring journalists to blossom.

We’re not going to sugarcoat reality. Student journalism is at a crisis state at MU. Vote to save student journalism and The Maneater.

_Edited by Leah Glasser | lglasser@themaneater.com_