Letter from the Editor:
By Andrea Scott
The news crisis in America has been growing and changing the last few
decades, but it does not entirely revolve around emerging technology.
Americans, especially young adults, simply aren’t following the
news like they used to, a frightening prospect to many people.In the
book “Tuned Out: Why Americans Under 40 Don’t Follow the
News,” David T.Z. Mindich explains that young people today are
not only far less likely to know about current events than previous
generations, even with the rise of the internet, but that they are far
less likely to care about their lack of knowledge. This disparity is
leading to a lack of civil involvement, a lack of political and social
understanding and a less informed nation.
My name is Andrea Scott and I am the editor-in-chief
of The Troubadour, Franciscan University’s student-run news
publication, for this school year. It is my pleasure to serve not only
my staff, but also the entire community at Franciscan University. Our
staff this year is dedicated to improving our quality of stories and
making this year’s publication the best yet.
Last semester I was involved with an internship
program in Washington, D.C., where I took classes in journalism and
media at the Washington Journalism Center and interned on Capitol Hill.
That was where my passion for the news industry and working in the
media really blossomed, and I am excited to take everything I learned
there and share it with you. Being away helped me greatly appreciate
the sanctuary that Franciscan University can be, but it also made me
conscious of how unaware I was when I was here. I felt concerned when I
came back to school for a visit and most of my friend hadn’t even
heard about the exploding stories in the news of the sex scandals and
the attacks on the Catholic Church. I was shocked when I found out that
there were so many students oblivious to the details in the health-care
bill. I am not one to sit here and point fingers; even as a journalism
major I know I am not consuming the news nor understanding it as much
as I should. However, I really felt a personal call to start learning
more, and I want to challenge you as my peers to do the same.
The Troubadour is here primarily to serve as a
source of news for Franciscan University. While we will always
predominantly focus on news and events on campus, it is also important
for us to start to expand to some national and even international
stories that affect our students, our country and our faith. It is also
important for you as college students to take initiative to learn about
what is going on in the news. We realize the importance of staying
informed, and we want help you become aware of and involved in what is
happening on our campus and get a glimpse of what may be happening in
our nation.
Out in Washington, D.C., it was so clear to me that
we as Franciscan University students CAN make a difference on our
campus, in America and in the world, but we have to be knowledgeable
about what is going on. Only then can we truly get involved and truly
create change. In order to really delve into the heart of Franciscan
University and embrace all that it is and has to offer, we need to be
aware.
Here at The Troubadour we will continue to take
gradual steps to improve our publication and meet your expectations for
a student newspaper throughout the semester. We are in the process of
redesigning our website (troubonline.com), and hope to launch it in the
next few days.
Once online, we will be updating stories daily and
bringing you news from campus in a much more convenient and timely
manner. We are also excited about our staff this year and that the
diversity of their backgrounds will help give us a wider range of
stories. Letters to the editor, as well as emails with suggestions,
complaints and kudos are always welcome at troub@franciscan.edu. We
want to hear from you! This is your campus paper; we want you to get
involved.
May you all have a phenomenal year.
all the best,
Andrea Scott
Editor-in-chief