With the growing popularity of TV voyeurism and the constant blurring of the distinction between news and entertainment, the American public is becoming more and more skeptical of the media. Having been a member of The Daily Collegian for three years now, I am aware of the ugly connotations associated with journalism. Countless surveys have shown that the public thinks newspapers and other media make too many mistakes, sensationalize news and have problems connecting with their audiences.
As editor in chief of the Collegian, I would like to emphasize that we are committed to accuracy, accountability, acting independently and connecting with readers in our mission to produce a quality newspaper.
Accuracy and accountability
The Collegian is dedicated to getting the facts correct. Our reporters are trained to report and write fair and balanced articles. We also try to abide by the same high standards in which we hold others. If you have any complaints about an article's accuracy, do not hesitate to contact us. Calling with a complaint, however, does not guarantee a correction or clarification in the newspaper. Before I approve a correction in the newspaper, I do some investigation and reporting to ensure that the correction is necessary and above all, factual.
Acting independently
As the independent student newspaper, we take our roles as the watchdog of the Penn State community seriously. We report on stories that have impact on and meaning to the university and town. We strive to avoid any real or perceived conflicts of interests. As such, our staff members cannot allow their own biases, perceptions and outside activities to influence their coverage For example, a reporter who is involved with a fraternity cannot write stories about the Penn State greek system.
Policies such as these allow us to remain an independent observer, and not an active participant, in the news around us.
Connecting with our readers
The Collegian is your student newspaper. We welcome story suggestions. Organizations interested in having their events covered in the newspaper should send us a brief, typed description a week before the event. Please include the time, date and place of the event, a contact name and telephone number, and whether photography is permitted. To send a suggestion in person, by fax or by mail, please consult our contact information on page 3.
To send a story suggestion by e-mail, please write to the managing editor at TimSwift@psu.edu. Please note that submitting a suggestion does not guarantee publication.
Just as we are committed to providing a quality newspaper for our readers, we are also equally committed to providing an educational experience for our student staff members. Although we run this newspaper independently from the university, we are students, too, and learn new lessons about journalism every day. Although we try not to make mistakes, it happens sometimes and we learn from them, just like any other student at this university.
The Daily Collegian strives each day to be fair and accurate, to make news decisions independently and to reach out to its audience. I hope that the coming year's coverage will prove to readers that we are dedicated to these principles.
