By Laura de Leon
As I prepare to put on my graduation cap and cross the stage to receive my undergraduate degree, I think back on great memories at the student newsroom at Texas A&M-San Antonio.
With two semesters on the editorial board and acting editor-in-chief for The Mesquite, I had the privilege to report and edit stories about the campus and the South Side of San Antonio.This is officially my last post for The Mesquite and it is bittersweet to say goodbye.
As I prepare for a new chapter, I wanted to share priorities that I set with my team that will continue next academic year.
As a student-run news outlet, the editorial board will continue to come together each week to prioritize coverage beats. Just two years old, we do not have the staff size, equipment or supplies to cover all of the events and issues occurring on this campus. That means making choices each week. Our major coverage area is campus growth and development, and we will continue to focus on the success, pride—and sometimes tension—that are part of the university’s growth.
Our staff will continue to drive workflow, fact check and ensure that our online news source is ethically produced. We will continue to rely on our readers to let us know whether we are serving the community well by leaving comments, or contacting our staff directly.
We will reach out to the South Side community and host important civic events such as the District 3 Candidate Forum held April 30, in conjunction with Texas Public Radio and the League of Women Voters.
In the fall, this newsroom will hold open newsroom meetings each Wednesday from 1-2 p.m. to allow the public to meet with student reporters, pitch ideas and offer feedback. We will also continue to develop a relationship with our student leaders and encourage open meetings of the Student Government Association, Campus Activities Board, and the many growing student clubs.
This semester our team grew together. We wrote together. We ate together. We even disagreed…together. We made some tough decisions, but in the end we stand confident that we can continue to bring you the news and perspectives that matter to the student body.
With new reporters and editors taking over in the fall, I wish those on staff and the entire student body great success with more memorable times created and documented during the evolving development here at A&M-San Antonio.
The Mesquite will take a summer break and will continue publication in mid-August. On behalf of the news team I’d like to thank you Jaggies for your support and for holding us accountable for producing high quality work. Read, comment and feel free to submit news tips or viewpoints throughout the summer. We’ll be back with you soon. For breaking news stories, contact Jacob Beltran, jacob.beltran@jaguar.tamu.edu
Upcoming Events:
May 7
Source Awards Party
9:30 in The Mesquite newsroom, Brooks City-Base Campus Room 169/179
Student Media Board Meeting & Appreciation Lunch
Noon – 1:00 p.m., Brooks City-Base Campus Room 169/179
Mesquite Fall 2013 Staff Interviews
1:00 p.m.
Applicants will be interviewed by the student media board panel. Brooks City-Base Campus Room 169/179
Nominees for the Fall 2013 editorial board include:
Editor in chief: Jacob Beltran
Comunidad editor: Lucia Espino
Cultura editor: Nicole West
Photo editor: Ashleigh Gow
Opinion editor: Tawseef Syed Ali
Public Editor: Open
Online editor: Rossi Ramirez
Multimedia editor: Open
