Editorial: Everyone Has A Story To Tell

I’m grateful to have the opportunity to write stories and make connections with my community. I couldn’t imagine that privilege being taken away from me. Journalism opens up possibilities of learning important information about what’s going on in the world, why it’s important, and how it impacts us. 

This is especially important when it comes to college publications. As I am the Editor-in-Chief of my university’s publication, I understand the effect that journalism has. Our staff writes feature stories about faculty or students, they cover events, or provide any essential information to the student body. 

Penn State University has decided to cut funding for their student newspaper, “The Daily Collegian,” starting in the 2024-2025 academic year. Journalism is under attack. Newspaper publications have been transitioning to online, but their future is becoming more uncertain as time has passed. 

According to “The Collegian” newsletter, by Editor-in Chief Nick Stonesifer, the publication may move forward in a different direction by trying to find funding elsewhere,and that is not a certainty as of now. This means that there is a high possibility that “The Collegian” will no longer be continued.

As a student who is a part of a publication, uncertainty of our future is something I am afraid of. For my future career, I would like to go into writing for a publication, but what if that’s not an option? What if I don’t have the opportunity to write for a college publication to gain experience? 

I believe journalism is an important aspect to universities. It gives important details to students and can help learn something that they didn’t know. It allows people to have creative ideas and express them.I have also experienced how honored the people I interviewed are that someone wants to know more about them. It makes them feel that they matter.

If publications don’t receive funding, how will we get to know people? How will we build connections? Would a campus still be considered a community?

Journalism should be held sacred and needs to be saved before it becomes a thing of the past because everyone has a story to tell.