Orange Media Network Advisory Board Minutes, March 11, 2025

By Steven Sandberg on March 18, 2025
Orange Media Network Advisory Board
Minutes, March 11, 2025
 
I. Call to order
Chair Lilly Goodyear called the meeting to order at 4:06 p.m.
 
Present:
Chair Lilly Goodyear of KBVR-TV
Abigael Craig, vice chair and EIC of DAMchic
Macy Moore, station manager of KBVR-FM
Brynne Boehlecke, editor in chief of PRISM
Ella Mashroutechi, EIC of Beaver's Digest
 
Audrey Saiz, EIC of The Barometer
Proxy for Megan Ho, OSUPC (unsure of name; I believe it was Alaina Visi)
Steven Sandberg, assistant director of Orange Media Network and ex officio board member 
 
 
On Zoom:
Giorgia Tinti, INTO 
Nicole Hindes, Basic Needs Center 
Dylan Sutherland, at large
Jillian St. Jacques, SWLF
 
Not present: 
Mason Lewallen, Center for Fraternity & Sorority Life
Maddie Jenson, ASOSU
 
 
 
 
Also present: Secretary and journalism adviser Jennifer Moody, in attendance to take minutes.
 
 
 
II. Board member updates
TV: Fantastic two weeks. Successful ASOSU debate, last show of the term was Thursday, we might be doing ESports, we're talking with Beaver's Digest about a collaboration, and we're excited about Dam Jam.
 
DAMchic: Winter launch had record attendance, approaching 300 people. Excited for spring.
 
FM: Doing many special things for KBVR-FM's 60th anniversary. Starting a 24-hour broadcast Friday at midnight, complete with a study session from noon to 8 p.m. in the former Pride Center on first floor. We have 140 DJs now. Excited about Dam Jam collaboration.
 
INTO: We have a new scholarship for spring term for $4,500. Time is short to apply but we will be posting it soon.
 
At-large: Asking around about what people like to read.
 
BNC: No concerns for me specifically. ASOSU is going through an "interesting time;" would like to be a resource for The Barometer on approach and strategy. There have been issues for years. I want to keep lines of communication open and be a colleague and collaborator on the ongoing dysfunction.
 
SWLF: This is scholarship season. SWLF has five journalism-specific scholarships, and OMN has 10-11. Apply for both!
 
OSUPC: We put on Beaver's Digest's winter launch, which had a mental health theme, and now we're looking at spring events, such as Springfest and Dam Jam.
 
Baro: We have been very busy with April print and a lot of breaking news, especially with ASOSU.
 
Beaver's Digest: Working on spring print, trying to finish editing this week. All content is due March 14 and we send files on April 11.
 
PRISM: The majority of our magazine is done and our launch is May 2 in the PRAx.
 
III. Election questions
Steven asked how, or whether, board members wanted to use or adapt the questions given to student leader applicants last year. He sent them out a week ago via email and also provided paper copies at the meeting.
 
Steven reminded board members the idea is to get a better understanding of the applicant. He asked leaders to think back on their own experience with the questions.
 
The questions:
  1. What kind of experience do you have giving and receiving critical feedback? Outside of OMN? 
  2. Describe a time when you had to take on multiple tasks. What did you do in that situation and what did you learn?
  3. a) How do you navigate tension within your team and your audience (outside of OMN)? b) How would you advocate for your idea, even if some people in the room disagree with it? What about someone else's? 
  4. As an OMN student leader, how do you plan to include and uplift diverse voices in your medium?
  5. What is your strategy for effective communication within your team? 
  6. What strategies do you want to implement to minimize burnout for you and your team?
  7. (Specific followup question for their presentation)
Feedback:
 
BD: I remember some of those. I kept going back to "communication," particularly for questions 2, 3 and 6, and felt like I was repeating myself. 
 
PRISM: I prioritized a couple for me: 1, 3, 4 and 5.
 
DC: Question 4 is my favorite because it's in line with our goals and mission.
 
TV: And 6 is important to Baro and it's a good one to keep.
 
PRISM: 5 and 6 are similar and I'd answer similarly.
 
Baro: I think that's a good sign, though. If they're emphasizing communication, that's what we want. Personally, 3 confused me a lot. Tension is very different inside an organization vs. outside. 
 
FM: I agree that I feel like I was repeating myself, although I don't remember exactly what I said. I do think 2, 3 and 5 are similar and that 2 is the least relevant. We can fit that into other questions, maybe as a combination? 
 
At-large: I think 6 is important to ask. 
 
BNC: We need to make room for complex disagreement and people who value this. How can we make sure new people weigh feedback but can still make hard decisions? 
 
PRISM: Let's ask applicants to describe a tension-filled situation and ask what they did for 3, rather than asking how they would handle one. 
 
Steven: Any questions you want to keep? Sounds like 4, 6 and 1, and some version of 3?
 
BD: For 3: Maybe their philosophy for conflict management?
 
INTO: For 3: Give a real-life hypothetical and ask for their solutions.
 
DC: But won't we need different scenarios for different teams?
 
TV: Maybe each of us comes up with one.
 
Baro: And have a separate one about tension with audiences, if it's applicable.
 
Steven: "What would you do in a situation where an audience member disagrees or doesn't like something you published?" 
 
SWLF: 3 and 5 could be combined with tension. I agree with Dylan that 6 is important. Also, I want to remind the board that in past years, the eyes all swung to the previous job holder to ask who they thought was the best candidate. Remember the board should make its own decision. In an actual hiring situation, you wouldn't get to do this.
 
Steven: Yes, that's pressure on the board member and could be an unfair advantage to the candidate. OK. We have 1, 4, 6 and a version of 3 - what if someone is upset outside the medium?
 
PRISM: I also want to add the tension inside the medium, and how to advocate for an idea.
 
SWLF: And how do you get a staffer to go the extra distance when you're stonewalled on an interview?
 
PRISM: And motivating volunteers.
 
Secretary: Remember that "inside" tension can occur between you and another medium, too, not just between you and your staff.
 
Steven: What about 5? 
 
All: Keep it.
 
BD: Let's rephrase it. What does effective communication mean to you, and what are your strategies to make sure it occurs effectively in your team?
 
Steven: OK. Questions 1, 4, 6, 3 as adapted to "What would you do in a situation where an audience member disagrees or doesn't like something you published," 5 as adapted to "What does effective communication mean to you," and a medium-specific. What about 3b? What was the goal of that question? 
 
Baro: The goal is to show what kind of leader they are: Democratic or dictator?
 
BD: Can we change it to, what are the qualities of a great leader?
 
SWLF: "How do you track pressing campus issues and identify newsworthy stories even if they will be controversial or cause tension?"
 
Steven: So, questions 1, 4, 6, version of 3 reflecting the audience, 5 on effective communication, what does a good leader look like, and medium specific. I will add Jill's, reword these and send it out.
 
IV. Dates and proceedings for elections
DC: I didn't like sitting in a center hot seat. Can we rearrange the seating so the person isn't in the middle? 
 
TV: Can we introduce ourselves as part of an icebreaker?
 
Baro: I loved informal chatter.
 
PRISM: Let's offer water.
 
Steven: We can look into reconfiguring the seating. I want to remind you of the dates. Applications close March 31. Elections are April 9 and 10, starting at 4 until whenever we are done. These are open meetings. 
 
V. Adjournment
There being no further business, Lilly adjourned the meeting at 5:04 p.m.