Editorial: Understanding policy
The Society of Professional Journalists poses between Moore Hall and the music building on Central Michigan University's campus. (Photo by Claire Vachon)
As students at Central Michigan University, public policy impacts out lives everyday — whether it’s through the tuition we pay, the apartments we rent or even just the necessary needs of a college student. Decisions made by lawmakers and local officials don’t just shape the future of our university; they shape our future.
CMU's Chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists is more than a student organization; it’s a community of young journalists learning to understand things that affect our lives. We’re writers, storytellers, photographers, and, more importantly, we are students who believe in using journalism as a tool for understanding and accountability.
As part of a national and international organization that encourages free press and ethical reporting, CMU’s SPJ chapter is committed to uncovering stories that matter most to our campus and community.
Our members come from diverse majors and backgrounds, but we share a common mission: To seek truth and report it ethically and with integrity.
This year, our focus is on the intersection of government and higher education — specifically, how policies determined hundreds of miles away directly shape what happens here in Mount Pleasant. For example, when federal lawmakers make changes to financial aid programs, it affects whether some of us can afford to stay in school.
These issues are deeply personal. As students, we feel the weight of these choices, and as journalists, we feel the responsibility to explain them.
According to the SPJ Code of Ethics, The Society of Professional Journalists exists to defend press freedom, promote ethical reporting and empoer journalists to serve the public good. Here at CMU, that mission starts with us. We aim to create journalism that not only informs but also connects.
Understanding the policies made by those in charge isn’t just for those in politics; it’s for anyone whose life is affected by them. And that includes every student who walks across this campus.
As the academic year goes on, SPJ will release a series of multimedia pieces in partnership with Central Michigan Life that unpack the policies shaping our university. We invite our readers to follow along, ask questions and join the conversation, because your voices matter.
As journalists and as students, we believe that information and awareness are key. By shedding light on how government and local policies affect our university, we hope to inspire the CMU community to stay informed.
Because at the end of the day, these stories aren’t just about politics — they’re about us.
