I applied to become a Beacon reporter not because my veins bleed words and bylines, but because I just wanted to give journalism a shot. I pitched the stories I loved, including coverage of concerts and cyclist safety, spent late nights editing in the library and now, am in charge of our little St. Mary’s newsroom.
My name is Camille Kuroiwa-Lewis, a senior English major and your editor-in-chief. I began writing this welcome letter with the intention of introducing myself and my reporting. But ultimately, I wanted to explore who this work is for.
As I write, I’ve just concluded a week-long training with Beacon staff. This week is for anticipating and answering questions like “What is The Beacon’s purpose? And who is our audience?”
Often, the answer is you.
As The Beacon’s editor-in-chief, my job is not only to ensure our staff understands that our work is by and for students, but also to uphold The Beacon as a vehicle of free expression and inquiry.
Our audience not only inspires our coverage — you’re keeping it alive. During a time where some say conversations are at risk of going extinct, upholding public dialogue on campus is more important than ever.
This dialogue might take the form of submitting opinion pieces and story ideas. Dialogue might also mean being interviewed for articles and even applying to work at The Beacon.
It can also look like asking questions about why we do things the way we do.
As editor-in-chief, I invite you to ask me questions about my work. Ask me anything. So long as you are asking questions, I say you’re on the right track.
Camille Kuroiwa-Lewis is the Editor-in-Chief of The Beacon. She can be reached at kuroiwal26@up.edu.
