Editorial: Last Words

The Chronicle // 5.06.09 // My farewell editorial for The Chronicle in which I discuss my role as Executive Editor and emphasize the importance of a student newspaper

A dwindling commodity on college campuses

Although I still have one more semester of Saint Rose to look forward to, I will no longer be the Executive Editor of the Chronicle after this issue. I am handing over that title to the more-than-capable hands of current Assistant Editor Kali Zigrino while I take on the role of Web Editor and oversee this summer’s transition to a new Chronicle website with less advertising, student blogs, and a more navigable layout.

So while I will still be on staff come this fall, I will no longer have the editorial discretion to make columns such as these – ones where I speak for myself and for the newspaper. This column serves as a last words of sorts, and I will do my best to use them wisely.

I would like to thank Cailin Brown for everything she has done for myself, the Chronicle, and the students on this campus. I will not go into too many details as I cannot hope to express my gratitude as eloquently as my fellow editor to the left, but suffice to say that I am something I never imagined I would be – a journalist – and that is 100% the fault of Cailin Brown.

It is no secret that journalism is quickly making its way on a list of industries that are struggling to sustain themselves. There’s no need to expand on that – you’ve already read them online.

What you may not realize is that college newspapers are being affected as well. A January 2009 article entitled “College Newspapers Finally Hit by Economic Downturn” by Bryan Murley outlines why and how college newspapers are not immune to the same problems as their professional counterpoints. Even the Daily Bruin newspaper out of UCLA published a self-deprecating editorial after they ran a full-page front-page ad, saying that “We were forced to make a decision we find distasteful at best — and dishonest and unethical at worst — because of the ever-present and unrelenting reality of the economy and the downturn of the journalism industry.”

Daily Bruin Editor Anthony Pesce ran this editorial after he was part of the 4-student panel that I also participated in at this year’s Associated Collegiate Press College Newspaper Conference. The topic was “Publishing a College Newspaper in Tough Economic Times,” and the discussion was not optimistic.

Close to this time last year, the editorial staff also had to make some serious financial decisions after our budget was cut more than in half and it was suggested that we go to a bi-weekly publication.

Instead, we tapped into our savings, slashed stipends, reduced the number of copies printed (in case you’ve been wondering why it’s harder to find the Chronicle on campus, that’s why), held off on making much needed purchases of new cameras and computers and worked to increase the number of advertisements in the Chronicle despite drops in advertising nationwide.

We did this because we believe in the importance of the Chronicle, and of having a student voice on campus. We did this because we realize the implications of a campus without a student-run publication to inform, raise questions, and incite discussion.

Without the investigative work of the Chronicle, students would not know what the College is doing to adjust to the economic crisis. Students would not know that a facilities employee was fired last semester for entering a dorm building unauthorized. Students may not even know the names of Student Association candidates, that one stepped down from her position in another club after a plagiarism incident, and that students can vote online.

I realize that I am preaching to the choir (or pitching to the publicist, if you like), in that if you are taking the time to read this newspaper chances are you understand and appreciate the value of journalism. If not, then I’m glad that you found this column. If so, then I urge you to take this issue and pass it along to a friend after you have finished.

There are other ways that you can support journalism on a campus level. Make a point to vote in online polls, post comments, and offer feedback for how we are doing things. You can patronize our advertisers or let us know about businesses that may be looking for a way to reach the students at the Saint Rose campus.

You can write for the Chronicle. Those outside of the Communications Department may not realize that the Chronicle is open to all, and we welcome aspiring journalists of all majors and backgrounds.

You can let SA know that The Chronicle is an important Saint Rose institution and that it is worthy of the support needed to continue as a weekly publication.

Maybe its too little, too late. As enrollment in journalism programs increases nationwide, the jobs for these future graduates dwindle. But what my work at the Chronicle and my internship at Metroland has shown me is that there are stories out there that can’t be tweeted, and people whose voices aren’t heard no matter how loud they blog. All I can do is keep trying to find these stories, keep digging, keep writing and hope that journalism hasn’t yet spoken its last words.

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