A panel of journalism educators and business leaders will share their ideas about integration of media and respond to audience questions during a symposium March 26 at Fort Hays State University.

Dr. Edward H. Hammond, FHSU president, invited the panelists for the symposium that is intended to help steer a new direction for campus news media in the wake of the suspension of the student newspaper, The University Leader. The last printed issue of The Leader appeared on newsstands on Jan. 31. A reduction in funding from the Student Government Association, together with inadequate advertising revenue, forced it to cease publishing printed editions. An online version of The Leader continues.

The symposium is scheduled for 6:30 to 8 p.m. on Tuesday, March 26, in the Black and Gold Room on the second floor of FHSU’s Memorial Union. Students, faculty, staff, alumni and the general public are encouraged to attend. Light refreshments will be served.

The panelists:

-Scott Reinardy, associate professor and chair of the News and Information Track in the William Allen White School of Journalism at the University of Kansas;

-Gary Shorman, president and CEO of Eagle Communications, which is headquartered in Hays;

-Ralph Gage, director of special projects for The Lawrence Journal-World;

-Pat Lowry, editor and publisher of The Hays Daily News; and

-Laura York Guy, a member of the Board of Directors of the National Scholastic Press Association, first vice president of Kansas Collegiate Media, and media instructor and media adviser at Garden City Community College.

President Hammond appointed a Task Force on Dissemination of News and Information, which will submit recommendations by April 19 in time to be considered in the budget for fiscal year 2014, which begins July 1.

“The charge to the task force is to review the media needs and aspirations of the FHSU community and then to develop recommendations aimed at increasing student engagement and implementing a multi-media model for the dissemination of student-produced news, information, analysis, opinion and entertainment,” he said.

The staff of The Leader had requested emergency funding from the president, but he declined, opting instead to seize the situation as an opportunity to create a new model for student media. President Hammond described the symposium as an important step in providing information for the task force.

“FHSU is looking not to reduce its investment in the dissemination of news and information but to strengthen engagement with members of our community in responsible and efficient ways,” the president said.