Addison Watson
Staff Writer
Murray State sits in a small southern town, arguably in the middle of nowhere, and has roughly 10,000 students. It isn’t hard to find out what is going on around campus.
To find out what’s going on in the campus community, ask, well, anyone. To find out what’s going on behind the scenes, pick up a copy of The Murray State News and read for yourself.
The News can be picked up in nearly every building on campus, and a digital version can be read online at TheNews.org.
What makes the University newspaper so special is the people who bring it all together. Amazing students and faculty who have the ambition to create a great product make the newspaper worth reading and the content inside intriguing.
The News employs students in many different niches. Some students take award-winning photographs, write award-winning articles, hand-drawn graphics, edit articles, manage advertisements or lay out the paper for the final product.
Stephanie Anderson, faculty adviser to The News, is responsible for overseeing the production of the newspaper and ensuring the students put out a great weekly edition.
“Being the adviser of The Murray State News allows me to teach beyond the field of journalism,” Anderson said. “I have the opportunity to teach students about leadership, professionalism and other soft skills that I can’t always do in the classroom.”
Anderson works closely beside students employed by The News and helps shape them into the best version of themselves and journalists that they can be.
“The role is more than just overseeing the operations of a student media organization,” Anderson said. “I strive to produce not only quality student journalists but quality human beings.”
Just by taking one entry-level journalism class, you might find yourself enjoying journalism and news coverage more than you thought you would.
The News has several different sections to read weekly, including news, sports, features and opinion. Every student writer employed by The News is assigned to one of the sections based on their strengths and their preference.
Paige Bold, senior public relations and organizational communication double major, became a photographer for The News after taking one journalism class with Professor Leigh Wright.
Bold got hired at The News during the spring 2020 semester.
“I think that working for The News has helped me get more involved on campus,” Bold said. “Now that I work for The News I am able to attend different events that I wouldn’t normally go to.”
Cady Stribling, sophomore journalism major, is the features editor at The News.
Stribling started out as the Opinion Editor prior to becoming the Features Editor this past spring. She said she enjoys the freedom and creativity when writing so being in the features section is a good fit.
“Becoming [the] Features Editor earlier this semester was a really good change because it’s better practice with a newsroom job that would be in the real world,” Stribling said. “My organization, communication, and writing skills have improved drastically because of this job. I definitely feel more prepared to enter the real world.”
Stribling said that the newsroom is more than just a place to create a print product. It’s a place for her to go and hang out with some of her best friends.
“We’re in there constantly, even when we don’t have to be because we just want to hang out,” Stribling said. “The News is a really great place to get work experience, and it’s in an environment where everyone truly cares about one another.”
Gage Johnson, senior journalism major with a minor in sports communication, is the Editor-in-Chief at The News.
Previously, Johnson was the Sports Editor before stepping up to tackle the daunting task of ensuring all pieces of the paper come together in an orderly and timely manner. Johnson said that The News is always looking to hire.
“If you’re looking to get involved in the journalism field and set yourself up to grow in your future career path, look no further than The News,” Johnson said.
Johnson said that there can never be enough writers or photographers, so positions are always available. If you enjoy that kind of work, pick up an application in the newsroom on the first floor of Wilson Hall.
The News offers most positions found in professional newsrooms, so other positions are available as well and change by semester.
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