I applied to the Texan in a dazed frenzy. I was freshly 18, at my dream school in a major that I honestly picked because I had given up on going to law school (why sign myself up for more school?). I knew I liked writing, taking photos and telling stories. What I didn’t know was what a headline was, what was a graf? What about inch count? What do you mean I have to talk to people for this gig?
To any reader whose first introduction to me is this column, it must be pretty concerning. You’re probably thinking to yourself, “Who let this person lead the newspaper I occasionally like the Instagram posts of?” To answer that question, it’s a board. My regency over this paper is completely legit. Someone, in fact, various someones, let me do this.
I could reminisce about my time at the Texan: As a reporter covering homelessness and policing. An associate editor watching her peers getting tear-gassed for the crime of expression. A news editor who kept her eyes on every campaign, and had her reporters write stories that would sometimes never see the light of day. Or I could dish about what we covered this semester, how we struggled and worked to keep this student body informed.
But I won’t. I have other things to write about, over stuff I’m sure you already know.
One thing about journalism theory I always found interesting was the idea of objectivity: What even is it? Are people even capable of writing objectively? Is that what audiences actually want? Is transparency more important than objectivity?
I don’t come to you with an answer but a question, one that may be silly, but stick with me here: How fine-tuned is your bullshit detector?
If anti-intellectualism is a stepping stone to fascism, bullshit detection is armor that all people could possess. Good journalists will usually have a pretty decent BS detector. It’s all in the art of discernment — in taking everything with a grain of salt. Did this person in power really want to help me personally, or do they just want to be elected? Does this policy initiative actually do anything tangible, or do the people who wrote it want me to believe it did?
If you’re this far in this article, put down the tin foil; there will be no hat making in this column. I’m talking about the M-word here. Yes, you read it here: media literacy.
Journalists, at least good ones, will always do their best to present the closest thing to the truth. Some nobody journalist Leo Bernstein once described good journalism as the “best obtainable version of the truth.” I can’t speak for Bernstein. After all, I am the actual nobody journalist here, yet I like to think he purposefully left some wiggle room here. Maybe journalists can’t present the truth in full. Journalists can present receipt after receipt, screenshot after screenshot, data analysis after data analysis, presenting what they claim to be the closest version of the truth, yet readers will look at that and say it’s completely false because someone else told them it was.
Isn’t that so concerning? That few people think for the masses? Yet, you don’t have to listen to them. You don’t even have to listen to me. That is the first step in this whole process. What does this writer want you to think after reading this article? Why is this writer being purposefully vague when I know it’s about (insert your thoughts here)? Just because y’all are new to this, I’ll tell you what I want y’all to think:
I want you to think for yourselves. Decide which sources you think are credible and question them. For example, did I use the word “anti-intellectualism” right? Was it ironic that I called Leo Bernstein, like broke Watergate Leo Bernstein, — THAT Leo Bernstein, “some nobody journalist” or do I just have no idea what I’m talking about?
So, my conclusion for y’all is this: objectivity is simply a theory of journalism, a guiding principle, yes, but a part of everything you see on social media that looks like it’s journalism? No. That’s when you have to develop a good sense of bullshit detection.
I’m not going to bore you any further with theoretical, stream-of-consciousness slop. Time to get to the good stuff: the thank yous and the “I could never do this without yous.” If you’re skimming this piece for your name, start here. \/
Samantha Greyson, Tori Duff, Joelle Dipaolo, Amelia Kimball and Aaron Sullivan, thanks for continually taking a chance on me. I hope you like what I did with it.
To all the newsies: I am sorry to have defected from the News department. Y’all were my first home here, and seeing it change and develop for students has been amazing. I am in awe, y’all are in good hands.
Pili, Layla, Naina, Clara, Lauren, Nicholas, Genese (and Sophie and Ana!), Clara, Tyler, Mazzy, Colton, Avery and Hannah: Is it tacky to loop all the department heads together? My message to y’all is the same. Thank you for trusting me to lead you guys; you had mine the whole time. The Texan was and will be in safe hands with y’all.
Joseph: Thanks for sticking with it this semester. You took charge and went above and beyond. I envy your next editors; they will be getting a great edition to their teams.
Peter, thank you for always making sure everything was running smoothly. I won’t spoil your super scary and intimidating reputation for the general staff, but you truly care, and that’s what makes a great teacher.
Will, thank you for always reminding me to get my head out of the weeds and think of the bigger picture. Surely, what was built during my time is a legacy you’re looking for.
Ava, holy fricking wow. We did it. Another semester on the books for The Daily Texan, and the newsroom wasn’t burned down or sued its pants off. I’ll be the first to say I’m proud of us. Keep holding those in power accountable and keep leaving work earlier than us low-life managing editors.
Dieter, thank you for taking on this crazy idea of mine. You’ve taken Texan en Español and made it your own. You’ve got a good team with good heads on their shoulders. I really am so proud of you and the progress TEE has made. So congratulations, and continue the good work y’all do.
Katie, you taught me restraint, to trust my instincts and instilled confidence in my leadership. For this, I am grateful. (Btw, I pulled some cards for you while writing this: Five of Wands, Page of Pentacles and Ten of Wands. You may be feeling a lot of personal conflicts, but there are better opportunities ahead if you remember you don’t have to shoulder everything).
Emma, Mikayla, Natalia and Andrea: Thanks for always listening to me complain about this job which I actually love very much. You have advocated for me when I couldn’t or wouldn’t. Thank you.
Natalia and Saul: You guys were some of my closest friends and I appreciate everything you have ever done for me. Finally, I will be able to hangout on weeknights, just in time for Rupaul’s Drag Race.
@Newton Tran and Matthew, gang, now when I say I could not have done it without y’all, I truly mean it.
Newt, trust your expertise. You’ve got a good sense of judgement, and you use it well. I have full trust that you will take the Texan in a good direction. Good luck, and I look forward to seeing what y’all do.
Matthew, thank you for always being there for me, always willing to take the extra story or handle these sports departments of ours. You’re a superstar, and I hope you know it. (And I’ve always said that.)
Alyssa, oh, Alyssa. I will miss our late Sunday-night facetimes (all totally work-related, Peter). You’ve often reminded me what a good leader is. Thank you for keeping me grounded, and I will miss working with you the most.
Vivien: Thank you for being my first friend, confidant and more. You’re a good leader and an even better reporter. Everyone needs to see the magic you can do once you get going.
Mom & Dad: Thanks. I definitely owe you guys one. Probably more so, Dad. Sorry, Mom, he was blown up three times, and now I get free college because of him.
I have so much more to say, but I limited everyone else to 25 inches, and this is going on 47. I honestly cannot imagine my life without this newsroom. I am so grateful to every single person in that basement. But for me, it’s time to take the training wheels off. Just me and my bullshit detector against the world.
