Spring Break
The Battalion's editor-in-chief addresses Texas A&M
Looking forward to a year of collaboration with the student body, the University and Student Media.
By: Nicole Alvarado
Issue date: 9/29/08 Section: Opinion
I started at The Battalion as a reporter. I wrote general news stories, but began covering the Corps of Cadets beat before long. Despite all the difficulties I encountered in reaching people and making stories interesting and informative, I was truly happy. I had finally found my niche.
I remember talking animatedly with my journalism professor about my new job. As he watched my eyes light up with excitement when I described the hustle and bustle of the newsroom, he reminisced about his days working for his university newspaper and offered a note of caution.
"You will spend all your time in the newsroom," he said. "I don't care what you say now - if you keep a job there, you will forget what sunlight looks like."
'That won't be me,' I told myself.
Four semesters and four positions later, I find myself locked away in the basement of the Memorial Student Center five nights a week, eyes glued to a computer screen, watching the time with bated breath. Deadlines, stories, copy editing, AP Style…industry terms rush through my head as quickly as the second hand on the clock. The adrenaline rush and positive stress of working for the paper is what really gets my blood pumping. I can't imagine myself being this happy with any other job.
I could never put this paper together alone. It has been a privilege to watch The Battalion staff evolve into a group of students not only interested in the job, but the quality of work and the atmosphere of the newsroom. We are passionate about putting together a paper that will interest, entertain and inform everyone in as fair and unbiased a way as possible.
In my year-long post as editor in chief, I hope to serve the student body as best as possible. As proud as I am of this publication, progress is not to be neglected for arrogance. My door is always open and I am accepting of new ideas and positive, forward thinking. Feedback is encouraged because what is a student paper without the voice of the students?
This has been a busy year for The Battalion. In addition to changing editors in chief in the middle of the semester, we are finalists for the Pacemaker Award, the highest honor the National Scholastic Press Association can bestow on a student publication. This year also marks a jump in our ranking of best college newspapers, making us eighth in the nation, according to The Princeton Review. These accomplishments are not to be taken lightly. As a reflection of this institution and everyone that makes up Aggieland, it is safe to say that we could not have done it without you guys.
I encourage everyone to continue supporting The Battalion. Keep sending us story ideas. We have an open newsroom and visitors are always welcome. I really hope to be in contact with everyone as much as possible.
Thanks and Gig 'Em, Ags!
(Nicole Alvarado is a junior communication major. She will be assuming the position of editor in chief of The Battalion for fall 2008 and spring 2009.)
I remember talking animatedly with my journalism professor about my new job. As he watched my eyes light up with excitement when I described the hustle and bustle of the newsroom, he reminisced about his days working for his university newspaper and offered a note of caution.
"You will spend all your time in the newsroom," he said. "I don't care what you say now - if you keep a job there, you will forget what sunlight looks like."
'That won't be me,' I told myself.
Four semesters and four positions later, I find myself locked away in the basement of the Memorial Student Center five nights a week, eyes glued to a computer screen, watching the time with bated breath. Deadlines, stories, copy editing, AP Style…industry terms rush through my head as quickly as the second hand on the clock. The adrenaline rush and positive stress of working for the paper is what really gets my blood pumping. I can't imagine myself being this happy with any other job.
I could never put this paper together alone. It has been a privilege to watch The Battalion staff evolve into a group of students not only interested in the job, but the quality of work and the atmosphere of the newsroom. We are passionate about putting together a paper that will interest, entertain and inform everyone in as fair and unbiased a way as possible.
In my year-long post as editor in chief, I hope to serve the student body as best as possible. As proud as I am of this publication, progress is not to be neglected for arrogance. My door is always open and I am accepting of new ideas and positive, forward thinking. Feedback is encouraged because what is a student paper without the voice of the students?
This has been a busy year for The Battalion. In addition to changing editors in chief in the middle of the semester, we are finalists for the Pacemaker Award, the highest honor the National Scholastic Press Association can bestow on a student publication. This year also marks a jump in our ranking of best college newspapers, making us eighth in the nation, according to The Princeton Review. These accomplishments are not to be taken lightly. As a reflection of this institution and everyone that makes up Aggieland, it is safe to say that we could not have done it without you guys.
I encourage everyone to continue supporting The Battalion. Keep sending us story ideas. We have an open newsroom and visitors are always welcome. I really hope to be in contact with everyone as much as possible.
Thanks and Gig 'Em, Ags!
(Nicole Alvarado is a junior communication major. She will be assuming the position of editor in chief of The Battalion for fall 2008 and spring 2009.)
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