Why WAUPM?
Yes WAUPM. (Wa-pum) What an acronym. It stands for Western Association of University Publications Managers. We used to be PCPM (Pacific Coast Publications Managers). That's almost as wordy and the acronym is not as much fun to say as WAUPM. We're glad someone changed it. Oh, and we're not very Western. Look at our members and you'll see we've moved pretty far east. We considered dropping the "Western" part and just being AUPM, but old traditions die slowly.We've been together since 1945 and we're rather attached to the name.
Bigger may not be better
Some of the world's most influential organizations boast memberships in the thousands. That's great for them. Strength in numbers can speak powerfully. WAUPM, however, touts a whopping maximum membership of 30 schools. What's to brag about in a membership that small? In fact we've been called elitist, or secretive, but these less-than-flattering descriptions couldn't be further from the truth. We've remained small to enable our members and guests to have an intimate, intensive opportunity to share information in ways that are simply impossible in organizations and at conferences with hundreds or thousands of participants.
We exchange information and share ideas
WAUPM has three major activities each year: a conference of members in the spring, a very detailed data-exchange and a student editors' workshop in the summer. Each experience offers an in-depth look at each member's programs and publications.
Spring Conference
The annual spring conference provides an opportunity for member schools' key student media managers to come together for several days of meetings, presentations, discussion and exchange. The small size of the group allows for meaningful discussion around an open square conference set-up. Only one session is offered at a time so all attendees benefit from every offering of the conference. Most meals are planned in a group setting with our professional colleagues so even social time provides great opportunities to share our issues of concern and accomplishments.
Data Exchange
WAUPM members complete an exhaustive data survey which brings together in one confidential document information about newspaper space usage, circulation, revenues, expenses, personnel, equipment, yearbook sales and much more. It allows for meaningful analysis of common trends that can be valuable for individual members as they face challenges throughout the year.
Student Editors' Workshop
We also run a summer student workshop specifically for student editors. Again, the small size of the group has made this an outstanding experience for our student editors. Before the new school year begins, this weekend workshop gives them an opportunity to share common goals, challenges and visions. They spend the rest of their tenures corresponding, e-mailing and meeting at other national workshops. They create a useful network of colleagues with similar challenges.
Who belongs to WAUPM?
WAUPM currently has 30 members. All members produce a daily student newspaper as well as one or more other student media, ranging from yearbooks to web sites to radio and television stations. Membership in WAUPM belongs to the university, not an individual. Each school's principal full-time administrator of the recognized student media program is that school's WAUPM representative. WAUPM serves these professionals who manage the training, facilities and equipment for the students producing student media at their universities. Each year, WAUPM members invite several universities with similar student media programs to be guests at the spring conference and summer workshop, and to participate in the data exchange. Although membership is limited to 30 schools, guests who have attended two or more conferences may apply for membership if there is a vacant membership position available.
Industry Involvement
The WAUPM conference planners consider industry trends and look at companies doing business with college media in order to develop a group of industry guests to invite to the conference. These vendors and partners participate in sessions, meals and informal discussions, and find the conference to be a valuable opportunity to meet with this group of student media directors.
