About Us
The Criterion has served the students of Colorado Mesa University since 1931 and continues to amplify student voices and accomplishments. The organization provides news and editorials that are relevant to life at Colorado Mesa University both online and in print. Our goal is to educate and inspire the campus community, as well as Mesa County. The Criterion values fairness, honesty, inclusivity, ethical journalism, and the reliable dissemination of information. The newspaper is made by the students, for the students.
History of the Criterion
The Criterion was founded back when Colorado Mesa University was still Mesa State College. It has been the voice of the students since 1931. Dating back to only six years after the college was founded, The Criterion is one of the oldest and longest running organizations at Colorado Mesa University. Since its founding, The Criterion has been committed to providing reliable, trustworthy, and quality coverage of events surrounding the university, as well as other local news. Since the formation of The Criterion’s website in recent years, it has become one of the major news outlets in the Grand Junction area.
Let Us Hear Your Voice
Any and all current Colorado Mesa University students are welcome to join The Criterion’s staff. To join, just attend one of our Monday meetings at 5:30pm in University Center Room 211. We are always looking for reporters and photographers.
Not only can any published work be the highlight of a resume, but it also pays! Stories under 450 words pay $10, over 450 words is $15, photos are $5 per used picture, and graphic design is $20.
Letter to the Editor
Send to [email protected]
A letter to the editor can be a response to coverage, an announcement, a critique, or a clarification. The letters WILL NOT be edited or modified in any way shape or form to protect the integrity of both the newspaper and the person writing the letter. This submission DOES NOT qualify for payment. The letters can not exceed 800 words and are not allowed to be anonymous. All approved letters will be published on the website but depending on space availability, the Criterion reserves the right to exclude the letter from the print edition. If your letter is not approved for publication, you will be given an explanation and an opportunity to resubmit. The following items warrant immediate disqualification: attempts to incite violence, anything potentially slanderous/libelous, or mis- or dis-information.
Please put “Letter to the Editor” somewhere in the email to indicate it as such as well as your first and last name as you would like it to appear in the publication. If you would like a specific headline for your letter, please indicate that. It will not count towards the word total.
