Graphics, Business students gain experience while helping to save local newspaper

Three Pitt State students are gaining valuable experience to prepare them for a career while at the same time helping to save Pittsburg's local newspaper.

Alli Casner, a Graphic Communications major with an emphasis in Graphic Design and a minor in Art, works most evenings designing and laying out pages at The Morning Sun.

Casner, who is from Mound City, said she was excited to learn the process and gain insight into the newspaper industry.

"I enjoy helping to lay out the sports pages every day," she said, "but what I appreciate most are the hardworking individuals who contribute to making it all happen."

Justin Miles, a Business Management and Marketing major from Fort Scott, is working in the advertising department and says the job has helped him make connections and build relationships with clients throughout the community.

"That will be an important skill as I pursue becoming an entrepreneur and business owner in Southeast Kansas," he said.

Brogan Burroughs, a Management and Marketing major from Leawood, also is working in the advertising department and has dreams of landing a career that will allow him to invest his earnings.

"What I enjoy most about this job is the opportunity to apply what I've learned at Pitt State and the personal growth I've experienced along the way," Brogan said.

Saving local journalism

The student involvement is part of a new collaboration by Pitt State and the Morning Sun - Pittsburg's newspaper since 1887.

Resources and strengths that Pitt State can offer are helping to prop it up at a time when newspapers across the country are folding. The once daily and robust newspaper navigated tumultuous times over the past decade, having once been locally owned, then bought up by a conglomerate, then sold to another conglomerate, then sold again. Subscriptions and advertising declined.

Two years ago, a group of several local families stepped in with personal financial investments to save the paper.

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