According to the New York Times, media companies find college newspapers attractive properties for several reasons: operating costs are low because student labor is inexpensive, sometimes even free; advertising is on the rise; and, perhaps most important, the newspapers are read — frequently — by a young audience with relatively deep pockets. In addition, there's independence from the bottom line is what keeps student journalism fresh and irreverent, or so holds the common wisdom in college newsrooms, and journalism professors tend to agree: “If there is free press, it’s probably on the college campuses”.

Hm, makes me wonder if there's a lesson here for the rest of the nonprofit community. Nonprofits often use volunteers, reach a hard-to reach population effectively, and are often independent if not a little irreverent. Could acquisitions of nonprofits by for-profits be the next full meaning of social enterprise?

I certainly hope not.