2008 Woodie Awards
It's been quite a year
Issue date: 4/25/08 Section: Opinion
When the four of us met to formulate the first editorial last fall, we had no idea what this school year would bring. We encouraged fellow students to get involved on campus and utilize the many resources available at Western Illinois University. We anticipated the events of our senior year and covering the news to the best of our ability.
Between the action-packed presidential campaign, athletic events and hundreds of other stories, we have been fortunate to interview lead singers, administrators, coaches, teachers and, best of all, our classmates. To every source who did not hang up the phone when the WC called or run away from a tag-team reporter and photographer: Thank you.
Interviewing our peers was crucial in February and March when a campus shooting and the threat of one hit close to home. Our office was a surreal mixture of quiet and professional on both occasions, and we shared many of the same emotions as everyone else here. Yet, while most of the campus boozed away the shooting threat, we were attending press conferences and frantically updating our Web site. It was one of many occasions where writing and editing meant wistfully watching as our friends had fun.
However, we usually found ways to have fun, too. The Halloween issue was a massive, creative collaboration between every editor and writer, and we were thrilled with the result. The second annual "Best of Macomb" provided us another opportunity to stray from the traditional hard news and write about the places our peers voted for. The response for both issues was amazing.
We have, however, taken our fair share of criticism. Between rude and even profane comments on the Web site, angry phone calls and scathing letters to the editor, we have always tried to remain humble and remember that doing our job often leaves us open to the scrutiny of readers. Still, we apologized when necessary and refused to let any person or group stop us from being journalists.
Now, the four of us are counting the days until we graduate and reflecting on how fast this school year came and went. When we encouraged our peers to get involved on campus, we did not realize our jobs would allow us to do the same. We will leave this campus knowing we produced the third-best college newspaper in the state, faced challenges unapologetically and met some of the greatest people we'll ever know.
So, thanks for reading. It's been one hell of a year.
Between the action-packed presidential campaign, athletic events and hundreds of other stories, we have been fortunate to interview lead singers, administrators, coaches, teachers and, best of all, our classmates. To every source who did not hang up the phone when the WC called or run away from a tag-team reporter and photographer: Thank you.
Interviewing our peers was crucial in February and March when a campus shooting and the threat of one hit close to home. Our office was a surreal mixture of quiet and professional on both occasions, and we shared many of the same emotions as everyone else here. Yet, while most of the campus boozed away the shooting threat, we were attending press conferences and frantically updating our Web site. It was one of many occasions where writing and editing meant wistfully watching as our friends had fun.
However, we usually found ways to have fun, too. The Halloween issue was a massive, creative collaboration between every editor and writer, and we were thrilled with the result. The second annual "Best of Macomb" provided us another opportunity to stray from the traditional hard news and write about the places our peers voted for. The response for both issues was amazing.
We have, however, taken our fair share of criticism. Between rude and even profane comments on the Web site, angry phone calls and scathing letters to the editor, we have always tried to remain humble and remember that doing our job often leaves us open to the scrutiny of readers. Still, we apologized when necessary and refused to let any person or group stop us from being journalists.
Now, the four of us are counting the days until we graduate and reflecting on how fast this school year came and went. When we encouraged our peers to get involved on campus, we did not realize our jobs would allow us to do the same. We will leave this campus knowing we produced the third-best college newspaper in the state, faced challenges unapologetically and met some of the greatest people we'll ever know.
So, thanks for reading. It's been one hell of a year.
Viewing Comments 1 - 2 of 2
what?
posted 4/25/08 @ 8:51 AM CST
3rd best in the state? That is freaking sad considering the level of bias and faulty, so-called "journalism". That says something about the other colleges too. (Continued…)
wow
posted 4/25/08 @ 2:04 PM CST
the newspaper is such a joke, yet you continue to read it. interesting.
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