Central Michigan Life has been informing campus and local communities ethically, accurately and independently for more than 106 years. American journalists, professional and student alike, have faced increasing and very public threats to their freedom to do their job, and news organizations need the public’s support more than ever.

This fall, CM Life is being recognized by the Associated Collegiate Press as a Pacemaker finalist, the top award in the country. Seven staff members will be celebrated later this month as among the top 10 in the nation for graphic design, column writing and photography.

In just the first month of the new academic year, our student journalists covered the decline of enrollment at CMU, the new budget for Isabella County, the football game against Michigan and a former ROTC instructor’s claims that the CMU indoor rifle range gave him lead poisoning.

“As the National Newspaper Week approaches, we need your financial support to continue producing quality journalism. To support CM Life students and your local journalism, donate to CM Life at https://giving.apps.cmich.edu/fund/9500015.”

Now, more than ever, freedom of press and speech requires protection. Student journalists, just like the professional media, are working under pressure and are committed to news, according to a Poynters article published on May 12, 2025 by Liam Scott.

“Student journalists across the country have found themselves on the front lines of some of the most headline-grabbing stories as the Trump administration cuts federal grants to universities that don’t bend to its will and immigration officials detain scores of international students,” Scott wrote. “Some student reporters are clocking dozens of hours in the newsroom each week — typically for no money, and all while balancing classes, and sometimes jobs and other extracurricular activities.”

Even though CM Life is located in an academic building and receives university funding to cover a portion of two professional salaries, the newspaper is self-sustained, thanks to its student-run advertising agency, Gold Media Group.

This means that CM Life is editorially independent from CMU; we make our own decisions of what to cover, based on the elements of newsworthiness.

This has been the case since our very creation.

CM Life was established in 1919, long before CMU had a journalism department, by a group of students who were interested in journalism and wanted to have a school newspaper. That’s according to Jim Wojcik, the first full-time director of student media in the 1970s, who was critical in building up the paper to the extraordinary program it is now.

Wojcik said to ensure this independent status, he signed an agreement with then CMU President Leonard Plachta in 1999. The agreement also created an independent governing body for CM Life, the CMU Student Media Board of Directors.

“This Board (consists of) the following voting positions: five professional journalists from various Michigan newspapers, of which three will be Central Michigan University alumni; (and) three student positions,” the Nov. 30, 1999, letter from Plachta read. “You are authorized to convene this new Board and work with it to take care of any necessary business that it required.”

Throughout the years, the number of CM Life alumni “that went into and had tremendous successful journalism careers is overwhelming,” Wojcik said.

As of 2019, we had four alumni who received Pulitzer nominations, and they attributed their success to the experience at CM Life.

That’s why, for us students, CM Life is a second home where we can make our dreams come true and grow as professional journalists.

“From my own personal experience, it’s really important as a place where you can learn in a professional setting, beyond whatever you learn in the classroom,” said Steve Coon, CMU journalism professor and CM Life alumnus. He was a sports reporter and editor from 1990 to 1993. “You also learn how to work with other students on a team. ... You’re also learning how to be a leader of a news organization.”

Besides being an essential place of education and growth for students, CM Life is also a resource for the university, local community and alumni.

“It’s a community service. You’re providing information to this geographic community, but also worldwide, anyone who’s interested in CMU information,” Coon said. “I think that alumni look to CM Life to keep up on news about the university. ... For a football score, the first place they’re going to look at is CM Life.”

Whether you’re looking for that football score, what’s new at your alma mater, or what parcel of land the city is rezoning, we’ll be there for you.

But, we can’t do it without you.

We hope you will consider showing your support for student press freedom and help protect your local news source today. Please donate to CM Life at this link.