FAMU School of Journalism and Graphic Communication (SJGC) Dean Ann Kimbrough
announced yesterday that she will postpone the publication of the first
edition of The FAMUAN for the Spring Semester. According to the Tallahassee Democrat, her decision comes in the wake of a libel lawsuit against FAMU and the student newspaper.
The lawsuit, filed by former Marching 100 drum major Keon Hollis, says that The FAMUan hurt his reputation by incorrectly reporting on Dec. 3, 2011 that he was among four students whom FAMU expelled in connection to the hazing death of band member Robert Champion. The FAMUan amended the article later that day by removing Hollis' name and stating that it "unable to confirm the name of the fourth student."
Hollis also filed a libel lawsuit against Cox Media Group, which owns WFTV in Georgia. He says an online article published by WFTV included the same incorrect information that The FAMUan ran.
Kimbrough she is conducting a review of all SJGC student organizations and student media outlets, including FAMUTV 20, WANM-FM, The FAMUAN and Journey magazine. She plans to have The FAMUAN back in circulation by the end of this month.
“We are working to balance students’ rights to a free press through this process while also ensuring that The FAMUAN has
the proper support from the School of Journalism & Graphic
Communication as it serves as a training unit for up and coming
journalists,” Kimbrough said.