EDITORIAL: Reflecting on newsroom growth as we look forward to 2023
Take time to rest, relax and recharge
Our semester is finally coming to a close. For the first time in three years, we were able to go about our lives – classes, jobs and all – without the requirement of masks, mandates and minutia looming.
Over the course of the semester, Central Michigan Life has been adapting to change in the world and on campus, too – a new director of student media, significant staffing growth, a campus inundated with students and a country post-COVID-19 and Roe v. Wade.
This semester we’ve worked extremely hard to improve the coverage of our campus and the Mount Pleasant community in its entirety.
Journalism and, let’s be honest, most industries in the world, have long since neglected to accurately cover, help or appeal to underrepresented populations.
It takes humility, honesty and perspective to look at the work that’s been done, identify areas for improvement and put it into action.
But it’s not about us. It’s about you.
This semester, CM Life created its first advisory board to directly connect us with the people we cover. The board is made up of nearly a dozen representatives from organizations, departments, and offices on campus, in the city and from the Saginaw Chippewa Indian Tribe.
This board will meet multiple times each semester to share story ideas, critique CM Life’s coverage and brainstorm collaborations.We hope and believe that this tool is just the beginning to building bridges with every single individual in our beautiful community.
With a sneak-peek episode of A Roadmap to CMU: Guides for international students, Prudhvi Pudi asks all international students to contact CM Life to share stories, experiences, and tips from their time in Mount Pleasant.
This fall saw an international student influx of 230%. It’s only natural that this growth is reflected in our newsroom.
We’ve happily hired several of those new students from countries around the world, and we are proud to announce a podcast that will be released next spring.
"A Road Map to CMU: Guides for International Students" is by international students for international students. It will offer new and returning international students the tips, tools and tricks they need to navigate campus a world away from home.
We invite international students to join our podcast host, Prudhvi Pudi, for a conversation about your experience on campus, things you think people should know or any topic of your choice.
Like the world, CM Life has had a lot of change to adapt to, but we’ve delighted in every second.
As the first normal semester – and 2022 – comes to an end, take time for yourself and your loved ones. Rest, relax and recharge for an exciting spring semester and new year.
We’ll see you in a few weeks!
