It's not every day that the Sun Star gets public input into its functions. We always accept letters to the editor, and our office doors are usually open to strangers. But few people really take advantage of these outlets. So I wanted to extend an invitation for formal criticism.
On Wednesday, the Sun Star's oversight body, the Publications Board, is meeting for the first time of the year. It's a public meeting, and I'd like to invite anyone who's interested to attend.
The topics at the meeting will be diverse. The rough agenda includes the newspaper's finances; hiring of next year's editor (it's already that time); a minor controversy I caused with a critical editorial about student leaders (guess who's complaining); our hiring and payroll problems (long story); and our plans to expand our presence online. And we're willing to discuss more than just those topics. I'm an open guy and will of course answer almost any questions you pose.
The Sun Star is moving in new directions. Our Web designer, Ben Cheek, has been at work throughout the semester redesigning our Web site. We've already begun breaking news online before the actual issue sees print, and we may soon move to a dot-com so we can begin carrying online advertising. I may add a blog next semester as well; you know, just so we can all bicker on a daily rather than weekly basis.
Our advertising operation will expand next semester as well, or so I'm told by our plucky advertising manager Lacie Grosvold. Internal figures show Grosvold has single-handedly sold around $20,000 in advertisements so far this semester. Put another way, the Sun Star has dipped into only about one-third of the student fees it collected last semester. That means we can afford to reinvest in the paper, buy new equipment, print more issues in color, and hire more people.
So far as the newspaper's content goes, expect some changes there too next semester. We're hiring a new photo editor over the course of the next couple weeks. And Naomi Hagelund, my level-headed partner in crime over at the layout desk, has been studying up on ways to make the look of the newspaper more creative.
As for me, I'm just waiting for you to tell me what you think I should do differently. I won't make any promises, but I'll at least hear you out. And, besides, if you don't come to this meeting, it'll just be me, some journalism professors, and a couple of student government types. The Pub Board will meet Wednesday at 5:45 p.m. in the Sun Star offices on the first floor of the Wood Center. Hope to see you there.
