We want to write what you want to read

Upon reading one of our Setonian issues, one is sure to run across at least one text box of shameless Setonian self-advertising. I’m sure Lorin Schumacher, layout editor, will be angry with me for giving away a trade secret, but to make my point, I had to give a little bit of information.

By Valerie Masciarelli

Editor in Chief

“We want to write what you want to read,” is a slogan we use often. One does not have to be a Setonian reporter to send us an idea for a story. I bet students did not know that they could even crash our meetings, if they were so inclined.

What does it take for a story to get into the Setonian? Time is the first necessary evil. I am sad when someone tips me off with very good article ideas, but I have already assigned all our writers to other stories that were discussed and agreed upon during the meeting times.

If I can fit it into my schedule, I will end up writing some of these ideas myself. Take a look at this issue – I’m in it a lot. That’s generally not a problem for me, but it does take up an awful lot of time. That’s not a complaint, by the way. I love doing what I do for the Setonian, and I would do it all over again, if only there were time.

Quotes and sources are other necessary evils. It takes information to create an article, and thus people need to speak our reporters, or speak to me. Every article we run should have up to three sources. When we do not get enough sources, we run the risk of not having enough information, and that is bad.

There have been occasions where I have received a good article idea via email, but upon responding to the writer, no further information is relayed. The cliché “The squeaky wheel gets the grease” comes into play here. I cannot assign a writer to a ghost story (though I could if it were about a ghost haunting St. Joseph’s Chapel).

It also breaks my heart to have to tell people that they cannot cover their own clubs, teams and other organizations. How easy it would be for us if that could happen, but every person studying journalism knows the term “conflict of interest,” and we stick to it. Believe it or not, there are other organizations that I am involved with, and thus I cannot cover their stories.

If an article idea does not make it into the issue, then it is not necessarily because it was not a good idea. There just wasn’t enough time, enough sources and enough available writers on hand.

Everyone who works on the Setonian is a student. Our adviser only needs to step in if a serious problem comes up, or, dare I say it, if the editor in chief needs to be fired. We work on student schedules, and we do student activities, too. If one is to say that we do not really cover student issues, then I take offense. I’m a student, my staff members are students, and I think we understand student issues pretty well.

For journalism majors, and also members of our staff who are not journalism majors, but are just really interested in the field, this is our exhibit. This is our play. This is our portfolio, our resume builder and our final show. We pride ourselves on what we accomplish, and we do not take this business lightly. After all, for many of us, it’s our future.

I feel as thought I have just thoroughly betrayed my entire field, and I ask my adviser for forgiveness on this matter. But how is it possible – without sending out a global email – to make the student population aware of our rules?

I just recently learned that theatre majors avoid saying “Macbeth” aloud while in a theatre. While covering the women’s art show (page 10), I learned a lot about the ways that artists try to gain ground as professionals, and other little tricks of their trade. Our own tricks are simple, and they can be summed up with one phrase: “We want to write what you want to read.”