I read an editorial in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette over
the weekend about how a high school newspaper uncovered the past of
their newly-hired principal. The story goes that a group of
high schoolers wanted to introduce their readership to their new
principal. When students researched the background of their new
principal, they discovered that authorities in Dubai shut down the
school she had just come from.
What struck me most about the Post-Gazette’s editorial,
though, was the acknowledgement of the crucial, and at times difficult,
position school-sponsored papers face when it comes to editorial choice.
I particularly appreciated this line: “There are those
who think student journalists should be controlled so they don’t say
anything upsetting. But trying to be inoffensive is not journalism.”
The statement is quite true – journalism is the craft of
presenting important, pertinent information to an audience. In
presenting the goings on of Point Park, it’s important to approach the
news without fear. This is true for both journalists and their
readership.
In the 1980s, our masthead had with it the quote from
Adolph Ochs, the longtime editor of the New York Times, “To give the
news without fear or favor…” I don’t know why we stopped including that
in our masthead – it was long before my time at Point Park – but I know
that that same sentiment rings true in the Globe newsroom.
Crucial to that fear and favor is giving accurate news,
and owning up to your errors. We strive every week to give you exactly
that – accurate student news. Have we fallen short? Of course, but every
time it’s a factual error, we run a correction both online and in
print.
I feel honest, transparent and accurate journalism is the
most critical thing to provide to the public. Every week I am thankful
for the editorial freedom this university allows us. Other than our
editorial staff and the kind folks at the Tribune-Review printing
facility, no one sees the Globe until we’re published on newsstands
Wednesday morning.
Along with that, I appreciate the access we’ve been given
by administration. Our front page story on the tuition increase is
evident of the most extreme case of that. I’m thankful because as I
learned two weeks ago, there are some colleges where the president has
not spoken to their student press in a decade.
Could it be better? Of course. But having an open
dialogue between student media and administration is crucial, because
without communication how can we begin to understand one another?
I can’t help but think of the first edition of the Globe
and how concise and precise then-editor Susan Trulove was in
articulating the place of this newly-established student outlet. In a
blurb on policy, Trulove writes, “GLOBE is also a faculty and
administration ‘voice.’ Trite but true is the belief that a sufficient
quantity of correct information quells rumors.”
This semester, among other accomplishments, we
celebrated 50 years of covering the world of Point Park news. We’ve
tried new things – briefs in the news section, graphics in our opinions
section and a staff of several section editing rookies that have stepped
up to the plate and impressed me.
It’s a tradition at the Globe for the editor to write a
letter to our readership at the beginning and end of every semester. I
look at the class of 2017 and realize just how much I’ve learned from
this group of students.
On this staff alone, two current and three former
staffers are graduating. Eddie Trizzino started at the online desk and
has served as a feature editor for the past three semesters. Julie
Griffith works as layout editor for the past three semesters. If you’ve
picked up a copy of the Globe since we went to a standard five-column
layout or seen the ripped paper motif that became the look of our 50th
anniversary celebration, you’ve seen her handiwork.
Karly Rivera served as a features editor for two semesters and Iain Oldman served as news editor last semester.
Kristin Snapp, who took a chance on me as a freshman to
join the news desk, served at the sports desk and as the Globe’s first
year-long editor-in-chief in 2015.
I can’t offer much in the way of advice to our graduates other than to keep a healthy dose of skepticism in your
everyday life – don’t be afraid to question everything.
everyday life – don’t be afraid to question everything.
Who knows, you could think of something as simple as a Google search that sheds light in the middle of uncertain darkness.
Thanks for reading,
