Readers, it’s time for a little heart-to-heart.
On the first day of this semester, the redesigned O’Collegian made its debut. Those of us in the newsroom fully supported, and still do support, the decision to implement those changes.
Newspapers, like wardrobes, need updates. We’ve had the same name and design for more years than most on staff have been here.
Unfortunately, in the process, we broke the bylaws that the student publication board sets.
Most college newspapers report to a publication board. It’s in charge of things like the nameplate and the hiring and firing of the editor-in-chief.
Which brings us to today. At 11 a.m., the pub board will meet to decide whether we get to keep our editor-in-chief.
We cannot begin to put into words what it would do to the good ship O’Colly to lose its captain.
On Monday, the paper might look a bit different. The board is deciding whether we get to keep the changes, including the new layout and ultimately the staff.
So, if you notice some changes Monday, you’ll know what’s up. And if we revert to the old format, it’ll be a return to the familiar — people have been using it to line their cats’ litter boxes for years.
But regardless of what changes are made, we still want to hear from you, dear readers. Above all else, The (Daily) O’Collegian is still all about the readers.
So call us, e-mail us, Facebook-stalk us, use smoke signals or whatever method you favor, just let us know what you want.
But never fear, readers. We swear we’ll never take away your sudoku or crossword.
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Huh?
I will say this–whoever came up with the idea of having comments on the website is the bomb yo.
Also, who cares about bylaws? Bylaws are lame. They’re made to be broken. Sounds like someone on the student publication board is a little bit too eager to become an anal lawyer.
There will be a rally tomorrow on the library lawn for the Jenny 1. Wear mauve or topaz to show your support. We can make a difference people!
I think the paper looks great, and I hope things work out. My only suggestion is to try to get the webpage updated and the pdf posted before 8am.
Well the meeting went alright. Jenny wasn’t fired, but they are making us go back to the old header (The Daily O’Collegian with the library in the middle) and they requested us to return to the next meeting with a presentation of our ideas for change, so it can be “officially” done this time.
And on another note, Justin Akers, I’m confused with all your comments your against us most of the time but now you show support? Im not saying we dont appreciate your involvement in the paper and your comments and suggestions but were just kind of confused on where you stand most of the time
Whose job is it to read the bylaws? In my opinion, they should be fired for not doing their job.
This is NOT a good day to publish a plea for help to the student body, on the front page there is a quote that says “racism has been an issue since 1960″. Who did the fact checking on that? The entire article is rifled with poor punctuation and errors. How do I “condole” racism?
Also, is Angela Henderson or Ty Scyfffore the AASA president? The picture says one, the article says the other.
There needs to be some real quality control improvements or you’re gonna start losing credibility, fast.
There have been typos and spelling errors in the O’Colly since dinosaurs ruled the earth–I don’t think a few more here and there is going to cause any loss of “credibility.”
Also, Sam, here is how you “condole” racism: you express sympathetic grief for racism on the occasion of the death of someone close to racism. So, for example, if David Duke died, you would “condole” racism, perhaps even send racism some flowers.
I apologize for the confusion about where I stand, I am not “against” you guys–just because I criticize you doesn’t mean I’m against you. If Roger Ebert gives a negative review on a Martin Scorsese film, it doesn’t mean he’s against Martin Scorsese, it just means he’s disappointed to see a Scorsese film that sucks so bad (aka The Color of Money).
Of course, I don’t necessarily support you either. In my experience, people usually get confused, irritated, and angry when someone expresses harsh, indifferent opinions. But a good writer has to have a built-in BS detector. And I see a lot of BS in the paper, so why not point it out?
Well, we appreciate your comments Justin, really , we do. I guess where the confusion comes from is when you criticize in an insulting way. Trust me, we are always looking for constructive criticism so we know what to work on and improve because this paper is our passion we want to do the best job we possibly can on it. Now this may not have been the mind set last year but it certainly is this year. Personally, i feel that the typos (e.x. 1960 was supposed to be 1690)have decreased in number this year compared to last year because the morale in the newsroom is better. Unfortunately, our paper will always have typos as will other papers (Tulsa World has ‘em and so does the Oklahoman, at least we try not to print libel). It is just an occurrence in the paper because we are reading so many articles and having to put together a paper at 2a.m. that these little mistakes slip right past us. No, they shouldn’t, but they do and we encourage any constructive criticism, just not the kind that just tries to attack and belittle the paper by saying how much we suck. Yes, we know we are not the best, we are only college students and we are still learning.
I can’t help but agree with both Sam Alexander and the last two paragraphs of Justin Akers’comment. To the both of you, I must say,”well said.”
To the author of this edit:
A little self-deprecating humor is always welcome, but you are disrespecting everyone who works behind the scenes to make the O’Colly what it is when you suggest that the paper is somehow worthless unless a redesign happens.
The fundamental purpose for any redesign isn’t to make the content itself better, but to present already good content in a way that makes it more logically laid out and easier for the reader to navigate. It should not be compared to selecting a shirt or pair of shoes in the morning.
As someone who wrote what must have been nearly a hundred edits, I’m finding these latest ones disconcerting.
I might add that you’re also insulting the readers’ intelligence by suggesting that the only reason anyone would pick up an O’Colly is to do the crossword. I fail to see why your co-workers would approve such a cynical message at the ed board’s nightly meeting.
I say once again — the person who writes the editorials is the voice of the newsroom and of the O’Colly as an institution. Correct me if I’m wrong, but it sounds to me like you’re purposefully denigrating the paper’s previous content and all the work that every staffer prior to yourself has put into it.
If you don’t stick up for your publication while at the same time doing your part to ensure that it is a good product, then why should anybody read it? If all you have to offer is glib and dismissive criticism, then why even have a student paper?
My e-mail address is still droogie6655321@yahoo.com, as it always has been. Feel free to sound off. Don’t publish this comment without my e-mail address, please.