I. Communications Media

Throughout these By-Laws, student funded media are referred to as communication media.

  1. There shall be a campus newspaper, the UCLA Daily Bruin.
  2. There shall be a campus radio station, KLA Radio.
  3. There shall be a newspaper, Nommo, devoted to issues relevant to the Black community.
  4. There shall be a newspaper, La Gente de Aztlan, devoted to issues relevant to the Chicano community.
  5. There shall be a newspaper, Ha’Am, devoted to issues relevant to the Jewish community.
  6. There shall be a newspaper, Fem, devoted to issues relevant to women.
  7. There shall be a newspaper, Pacific Ties, devoted to issues relevant to the Asian American community.
  8. There shall be a yearbook, Bruin Life, which shall be an annual publication.
  9. There shall be a newspaper, OutWrite, devoted to issues relevant to the Gay and Lesbian community.
  10. There shall be a newspaper, Al-Talib, devoted to issues relevant to the Muslim community.

Amended September 10, 1987
Amended May 16, 1991
Amended November 19, 1997
Amended December 6, 2004.

Committees of the Board

The chairperson, with the approval of the Board, shall appoint members of the Board and/or other qualified persons to committees to administer specific Board functions and make recommendations to the Board. Either the Chairperson or Vice Chairperson of each committee shall be a student. Only appointed committee members may vote, but all Board members may attend and participate in the deliberations of any committee.

1. OPERATIONS COMMITTEE

The Operations Committee shall consist of six (6) Board members and ten (10) media members.  Board members shall include two graduate students, three undergraduate students, a non-student Board member and the Media Director. One of these members shall be the board Vice Chairperson who will serve as the Operation Committee Chairperson. Media members shall consist of the Daily Bruin editor-in-chief, Bruin Life editor-in-chief, the KLA Radio General Manager, Al-Talib editor-in-chief, FEM editor-in-chief, Ha’Am editor-in-chief, La Gente editor-in-chief, Nommo editor-in-chief, OutWrite editor-in-chief, and Pacific Ties editor-in-chief.  

a. Review as needed the Constitution, By-Laws, and Policy and Procedures Manual of the Board and consult with the media when relevant.

b. Review the Constitution, By-Laws, and Policy and Procedures Manual of each medium.

c. Ensure that the Board and its media adhere to Board policies.

d. Monitor progress toward fulfillment of long-range goals for improving operations of the Board and its media.

e. Review as needed:

  1. Media application forms and interview format
  2. Job descriptions and other information describing the Board and media personnel.

f. Hear reports from editors and general managers.

g. Submit its recommendations to the Board for approval/disapproval.

2. EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

The Executive Committee shall be composed of the following members selected by a majority vote of the board: One (1) undergraduate student member, one (1) graduate student member, and two (2) non-student members. One of these members shall be the Communications Board chairperson.

This committee shall:

a. Act in place of the Board as necessary between regular and special meetings of the Board, provided however that the Executive Committee shall not:

  1. Amend, rescind or make an exception to a Board policy, or a adopt a new Board policy.

b. Consult with the Media Director upon his/her request.

c. Oversee the evaluation process of the Media Director. This will entail creating the form, instruction and distribution of the evaluation. The Media Director, who is a member of the Executive Committee, may participate in discussion, but may not vote on any matter concerning his/her evaluation.

3. FINANCE COMMITTEE

The Finance Committee shall consist of two (2) student members, one (1) non-student member, and the Student Media Director.

This committee shall:

a. Review drafts of the Board’s annual budgets prior to approval by the Board.

b. Insure that the Board and its media operate within their approved budgets.

c. Review as needed:

  1. annual budgets
  2. advertising rates

d. Review financial status of any medium which has failed to meet its contribution requirement for two consecutive years.

e. Regularly report to and make recommendations to the full Board.

f. Choose their own chairperson.

III. Restricted Attendance at Board Meetings

A. THE PURPOSE FOR WHICH ATTENDANCE AT BOARD MEETINGS MAY BE RESTRICTED SHALL BE LIMITED TO THE FOLLOWING:

  1. Bringing of charges of misconduct against a Board member, and any resultant deliberations or disciplinary proceedings.
  2. Consideration of the appointment, employment, compensation, position of disciplinary sanctions(s) against or dismissal of a staff member of any communication media under the Board’s jurisdiction.
  3. Discussion of the elements of contractual of purchasing agreements or litigation which directly affect the Board or any communication media under its jurisdiction.

B. MEETINGS, OR SESSIONS OF MEETINGS, AT WHICH ATTENDANCE IS RESTRICTED MAY BE ENTERED INTO IN ONLY ONE OF THE FOLLOWING MANNERS:

  1. By inclusion on the agenda of a general statement of the purpose and intended or anticipated nature of the business or discussion.
  2. By a three quarter (3/4) majority of the voting members present.
  3. According to Robert’s Rules of Order, in any instance where the Board’s Constitution or By-Laws are silent on the matter at hand.

C. BUSINESS CONDUCTED DURING RESTRICTED MEETING OR SESSIONS

Business conducted in restricted meetings or sessions shall be limited to only those matters cited on the agenda for discussion, or those stated by the Chairperson pursuant to a motion to enter into a restricted session.

D. VOTING RESTRICTIONS DURING RESTRICTED MEETING OR SESSION

No final vote or official action, which is binding on the Board, or any communication media or staff member under the Board’s jurisdiction, may be taken in a restricted meeting or session.

E. CONFIDENTIALITY OF RECORDS PERTAINING TO RESTRICTED MEETINGS OR SESSIONS

Minutes or a detailed summary of all restricted meetings or sessions will be kept in a confidential and secure manner by the Media Director, with access to them limited only to Board members or those who help Board membership at the time of the restricted meeting or session.

F. TERMINATION OF RESTRICTED MEETINGS OR SESSIONS

Restricted meetings or sessions may be terminated, and continued in a public setting, either at the request of an individual who is the subject of a disciplinary action, or by a favorable majority of the members present and voting in the affirmative or negative.

IV. Communications Board Policy

The publication or broadcasting of a communication medium may be suspended if it is operating with a deficit and has expended its subsidy from the Board.

V. Communications Board Basic Conduct Expectations

All editors and general managers of Student Media are expected to adhere to the following expectations of basic conduct. A failure to regularly adhere to these expectations may result in a hearing which could lead to disciplinary action or further Communications Board oversight.

A. Publications are expected to post content online averaged at least once a week over a month and to encourage the use of online platforms during the regular school year.

B. Editors are encouraged to attend Communications Board meetings and are required to attend Operations Committee meeting. Exceptions are possible in cases of class conflicts, health issues, family emergencies, and similar conflicts communicated with the Operations Committee chair.

C. Editors and general managers are expected to openly communicate with the Media Director and/or members of the Communications Board when problems arrive within the publications, whether financial, staffing issues, or any other concerns that may arise to the running of publications.

D. Editors and general managers are expected to follow standard measures of ethical conduct found within the Code of Conduct of Communications Board Policies & Procedures.

These By-Laws were first adopted January 9, 1973 and became effective, along with the constitution, May 5, 1973.

These Bylaws have been amended March 15, 1973, July 1, 1973, October 31, 1973, January 9, 1974, February 20, 1974, March 29, 1974, May 30, 1974, May 1975, June 1977, November and January 1978, June 1982, July 1983, March 1984, June 1984, February 1985, June 1985, June 1985, December 1985, June 1986, September 10, 1987, August 1988, and April 1990, May 16, 1991, May 21, 1996, November 19, 1997, October 1, 1998, December 6, 2004, December 7, 2015, June 2019, and June 7, 2021.