STATE HORNET CHARTER

The purpose of this document is to outline the organization, structure, functions and
responsibilities of the State Hornet, a student-run newspaper serving California State
University, Sacramento, and the relationship of the State Hornet to the campus.

1. Relationship to the University

The philosophy of the University is that the best interests of the campus
community are served by having a student run newspaper that:
• serves as a learning experience for students
• serves the communications needs of the entire campus, and
• is published twice a week or weekly.
• publishes an online edition

2. Relationship to the Communication Studies Department

The Communications Department provides a faculty adviser for six or more

weighted teaching units per semester. The adviser is a full-time or part-time journalism
faculty member who offers supervised instruction for credit in approved
Journalism/Communication Studies courses. The faculty member advises State Hornet
editorial staff. The Faculty Adviser is responsible for the execution of all business
operations of the newspaper.

3. Publications Board and State Hornet Organization

The Publications Board will act as the publisher of the State Hornet. The chair of the
Publication Board will be elected yearly from the board (with the exclusion of the State
Hornet editor in chief) by the board. The Board will be composed of nine members:
• The Editor in Chief of the State Hornet;
• Two Hornet editorial staff members (enrolled in at least six CSUS units and in
good academic standing) and appointed by the Editor in Chief of the State Hornet no later
than June 1 of the current academic year;
• Two student body representatives (enrolled in at least six CSUS units and in
good academic standing) elected by the student body at large through the ASI election
process and not concurrently holding any elected ASI office or position at the State
Hornet newspaper;
• The State Hornet Faculty Adviser;
• The Communication Studies Department Chair or designee;
• The Business Advisory Committee Chair or designee; and
• The Vice President of Student Affairs or designee.
The Publications Board may fill vacancies for non-appointed positions by a simple
majority vote, after conducting an appropriate search.
 The Publications Board will be the governing body of the State Hornet. Its primary
function will be policy formulation and review. It will meet at least once a month, while
the newspaper is in publication at the call of the Chair of the Publications Board.
A meeting may also be called at the written request of: The Editor in Chief, the
Faculty Adviser or the majority of the Editorial Staff or the majority of the Publications
Board.
Minutes of all meetings including policy decisions made by the Board will be
recorded and distributed to all board members.
Publications Board members term begins June 1 and expires each year on May 31.
In order to call an official meeting a quorum must be present. A quorum consists
of five of the nine voting members. All Board Members will have one vote. The Board
will have the final decision in any conflict that involves the State Hornet.
The Publications Board will strive to ensure that the rights of freedom of speech
and press are fully applicable to the publication of the State Hornet.
The Editor in Chief of the State Hornet will assume the role of chief executive
officer of the newspaper and will be primarily responsible for editorial policy formulation
and execution of day-to-day management in conjunction with the Faculty Adviser.
The Editor in Chief of the newspaper will hire or appoint, supervise and remove, if
necessary, the Editorial Staff who will be concerned primarily with the day-to-day
operations of the newspaper and will function according to criteria and procedures
established by the Editor in Chief and according to individual job descriptions.

4. Business Advisory Committee

The Business Advisory Committee's purpose is to preserve and promote the fiscal
integrity and business effectiveness of the State Hornet. The Committee will recommend
business and financial policy to the Publications Board and advise that Board on business
and financial operations. This Committee will be composed of four three members:
• The State Hornet Editor in Chief;
• The State Hornet Adviser;
• The Associate Vice President for Finance, who will chair the Committee.
The Committee will meet at the call of the chair while the newspaper is in
publication. This Committee, in consultation with the Editor in Chief-elect, will prepare
by May 1 of each year a proposed budget for the following academic year and forward
the budget to the Publications Board for approval.

5. Fiscal Agent and Employer of Record

Associated Students Inc. will serve as fiscal agent and employer of record for the
State Hornet. Student employees directly associated with the operation of the State
Hornet must adhere to all relevant personnel policies and procedures of ASI. The
permanent staff of the State Hornet will be reimbursed State employees.
 The University acknowledges that under this agreement, Associated Students Inc.
assumes no liability for control over the management, operation or published content of
the State Hornet other than as provided for any other IRA program.

6. Facilities and Equipment

The University shall provide office space and production shop facilities at cost for
the State Hornet. The Publications Board will agree to adhere to relevant policies with
respect to operation and maintenance of these facilities.
All campus equipment related to the production of the State Hornet is the property
of the University and is to be used solely for the support and operation of the State
Hornet and housed at the State Hornet offices.
All equipment purchased by the State Hornet belongs to the University and may
only be traded or changed according to University policy.

7. Source of Funds

The State Hornet will be operated by the Publications Board as a self-supporting

financial operation. As such, it will not be allowed to operate with a deficit. It will be
allowed to solicit and accept funds under the guidelines of University policy from any
group or individual. Provision of funds to the State Hornet by any group or individual
will not cause the providing party to assume any liability or responsibility for the editorial
actions of the State Hornet.
All revenues generated by or in support of the State Hornet will be used
exclusively for the benefit of the State Hornet, including but not limited to the
remuneration of employees and the funding of maintenance and replacement for
equipment.
All revenues generated by student fees will be used exclusively for rent, printing
and stipends, in accordance with specifications of the trust account.
A reserve fund will be maintained as part of the accounting practices of the State
Hornet to provide for contingencies, maintenance and replacement of production
equipment used in the publishing of the State Hornet. These funds will be administered in
accordance with policy adopted by the Publications Board.

8. Canon of Ethics

All actions of the State Hornet Editorial Staff will be governed by:
• The American Society of Newspaper Editors' "Statement of Principles,"
• The Society of Professional Journalists' "Code of Ethics," and
• The Associated Press Stylebook and libel manual.
In addition, the following University guidelines apply:
 • The Editorial Staff will seek the opinion and advice of the Faculty Adviser for
any story that may be potentially libelous, defamatory, offensive, or in any other respect
questionable to the integrity of the State Hornet.
• The Editorial Staff will comply with all University and ASI regulations while
operating as a recognized part of the University community.
• The Editorial Staff will abide by its responsibility to the University Community,
upholding the State Hornet's goals.

1. To cover the news and interests of the CSUS campus community, which include
students, staff, faculty and administration;
2. To honestly report with balance, trying at all times to give voice to all sides of
the story or issue;
3. To professionally train State Hornet staff so members can make a transition to a
working news agency after graduation;

4. To represent diversity on campus by recruiting representative staff and through

stories and issues covered in the newspaper.

9. Selection Process for Editor in Chief

No later than May 1, the Publications Board will select the Editor in Chief of the
State Hornet for the coming year. If any Board members cannot serve on this Selection
Committee, he or she shall appoint an eligible designee. The new Editor in Chief must
receive a majority of the nine votes. He or she must be enrolled in at least six CSUS units
and be in good academic standing.
In the event of the resignation or removal of the Editor in Chief, the Publications
Board will name a replacement Editor in Chief to complete the remainder of the
academic year. The Publications Board sets the salary of the Editor in Chief.

10. Amendment of "The State Hornet Policy"

This document may be amended by the majority vote of the Publications Board subject to
approval of the President. Any proposal submitted to the President will include the
proposed amendment, a statement of reasons for the change and a report of the majority
vote in favor of such amendment.

Amended 2-06