The Owens Outlook newsroom will thankfully be
buzzing with activity next week when the Fall semester begins Aug. 19.
It will be a bit of an adjustment for
editor-in-chief Josh Widanka and managing editor Cathy Zeltner, the dynamic duo
who has worked in a quite, barren office throughout the summer to plan and plot
for both the online and print editions of the Owens Outlook.
The online edition will
continue to provide the Owens student and faculty community with news and
entertainment, but the exciting news is the return of the print edition,
expected to make its debut in November.
Owens Outlook staff from left: Josh, me, Cathy, Chris G. and Mike the IT guy. |
Without Josh and Cathy’s commitment to bringing back the print edition, it
simply wouldn’t happen. It also
takes the support of our administrative boss, Chris Giordano, and IT guy Mike
Jerzykowski. As the new adviser, one of my jobs is to introduce these key
players to the community. So…
Editor-in-chief Josh Widanka
has been pursuing a degree in
Political Science at Owens since 2010. He had a very hard choice to make this
summer: either be a member of the Owens student government or continue his editorship at the Outlook. To do both would have
been a conflict of interest. Fortunately for the Outlook staff, he chose
journalism, which makes sense considering his journalism philosophy:
“Freedom of Speech has become too limited. We as a society are standing
back and allowing more and more of our freedoms to be taken away. We should
fight back and I feel that the press is the means by which we can do this. The
press, no matter what level it is on, is charged with reporting fair and
accurate news.
“I would love to see the Outlook become a massive student driven organization on the Owens campus. I want to help to achieve this by fighting against the norms, and bringing our paper back from an all online issue to a printed one, as well.”
“I would love to see the Outlook become a massive student driven organization on the Owens campus. I want to help to achieve this by fighting against the norms, and bringing our paper back from an all online issue to a printed one, as well.”
Managing editor Cathy Zeltner graduated from Northwood High School
and Penta County Career Center. She has a business degree in Office Administration,
as well as two certificates from Owens Community College. She currently
earning a photography degree.
Cathy became involved with the
Outlook while a student in my Intro to Photojournalism course. She started out
as a photographer, then was quickly promoted to photo editor and then managing
editor.
“I believe there is a lot of
information that people don’t know about. I want to make that information
available. Knowledge is power. I look forward to returning to print. I believe
a print version, as well as an improved online version, will be useful tools
for Owens students, staff and faculty. I am excited to have the opportunity to
help make these changes.”
Our IT guy is Mike Jerzykowski, who has an associate of Applied Science degree in Information
System Administration. He is a former Toledo Blade employee, and has been at
Owens since February 2012. Mike will help the Outlook staff with our IT
issues, for both the online and print editions.
“Journalism comes in many flavors: print, online and television, just to
name a few. However, they all should have the common goals of quality and
accurate reporting. My vision for the Outlook is putting out a quality
print and online newspaper that the faculty, students and staff can be proud
of.”
Like I posted earlier on this
blog, the Outlook editors and myself wouldn’t even attempt to bring back a hard
edition without administrative support. By that I mean that the administration will have a hands-off approach, and let the students control the content without prior review or censorship.
My boss Chris Giordano, dean of Student Life, has assured us that the
Outlook staff does, indeed, have that support.
Chris earned his BA in English from Rowan University, a MS
degree in counseling from Upsala College, and a Graduate Certificate in Adult
and Organizational Learning from Suffolk University. He’s been at Owens for
four years.
“The Outlook is being
re-conceptualized to ensure engaging, developmental and experiential elements is
a part of a meaningful co-curricular student experience at
Owens. My vision is to transition The Outlook into a sustainable
student-run print and electronic edition newspaper that becomes fully
integrated into the culture of the campus.”
Last but not least is…me, the new Outlook adviser.
I have been in the newspaper business since I was 18, but this is my
first time to advise a student publication. My vision as adviser is to train and
support the student staff, but ultimately let them make their own decisions;
let them make their own mistakes; and let them claim their own triumphs. How else
will they learn to be responsible communicators?
Now you know a little more about us. I will post a photo of us next
week, after our next meeting.
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