Princeton dilemma

Every year when the Princeton Review releases its university rankings, the media takes the bait and adds to the hype. \nIn the Aug. 24 edition of the Indiana Daily Student, in large numbers, we ran IU's four rankings in the review. We directed readers to Page 9 for a complete story about the rankings. \nSome might question the newsworthiness of the new rankings. We realize that there are certainly some large questions about whether the rankings serve as an accurate portrayal of the University. But, for the story, like many others, we are at the mercy of the media firestorm already generated.\nIn terms of presentation, the "charticle" style we used was the most effective way to show the numbers and draw readers into the story, we thought. In the story, IDS reporter Carly Dachis wrote that some IU administrators said they believe the data collection for the rankings is unreliable.\nWhether it can be seen as legitimate research or merely junk science, the results of the annual Princeton Review have serious implications for IU. \nBecause television stations and newspapers across the country cover the Princeton Review-- which is in no way associated with the much-esteemed Princeton University, by the way -- we would be out of touch with our readers' interests if we did not give the story substantial play. \nWe decided to run the story inside the newspaper and the numbers on the front page because that reflected the news. The rankings were new, and the story reported that IU administrators voiced the same complaints about the Princeton Review that they have for years.\nAs journalists, we have to question the credibility of studies and rankings. We know current students talk about the rankings and prospective students (and their parents) will hear about how the Princeton Review thinks IU is the No. 4 place where students (almost) never study. It could have minimal effect. Or it could attract partiers who will try to raise our spot in that ranking. At the same time, it could potentially turn off prospective students who don't want to be associated with a "party school." \nWe don't have to run a story every year about the Princeton Review rankings, but we usually choose to because students love to read about them. \nWe understand that some in the community believe the Princeton Review's book isn't worth the paper it's printed on. But we also know that a lot of people picked up the newspaper Aug. 24 to read about the rankings and at least that got everybody thinking.