North Texas Daily

A committee of 19 faculty, students and university administrators selected current Copy Chief Kayleigh Bywater to be the editor-in-chief of the North Texas Daily beginning in January.

Bywater is a digital and print journalism senior and has worked for the paper since November 2014 when she was a freshman. Since joining the staff, Bywater has held a number of positions, including senior staff writer for arts and life, arts and life editor and copy chief.

“I always thought it’d be cool, but I never really thought I’d [become] editor-in-chief,” Bywater said. “I just kept working towards [it] and finally got there.”

Bywater said she knew she wanted to be editor-in-chief when she was a senior staff writer. She said the editor-in-chief at the time, Nicholas Friedman, encouraged her and helped her reach her full potential. Her experience in classes at the Frank W. and Sue Mayborn School of Journalism also encouraged her to seize the opportunity.

Bywater applied for editor-in-chief for this fall semester but was not chosen.

“Not getting the position pushed me to work harder and try for the position again,” Bywater said.

Current Editor-in-Chief Reece Waddell, who has worked with Bywater since spring 2015, said she has the right experience working at the Daily along with a “winning personality and drive to succeed.”

“I think, without question, Kayleigh was the right choice to lead this paper moving forward,” Waddell said. “I believe Kayleigh will bring a level-headed demeanor to the newsroom and be able to engage our audience and the community of Denton and UNT in an exciting, effective way.”

One of the main things Bywater wants to work on next semester is digital integration.

“I really want to incorporate more visuals, both online and in the paper, instead of just a header,” Bywater said. “People are going to be more inclined to read then.”

Bywater said she wants stories to have at least two visual elements. Taking it a step further, Bywater wants to add a new position to make up for the lack of videos in the Daily in order to draw people into stories and articles.

“I’m creating a new position for a videographer,” Bywater said. “My goal is to have at least three videographers who will produce three videos together each week — one for sports, one for news and one for features.”

Bywater also wants to work with broadcast journalism majors at North Texas Television (NTTV) to learn more about videos, expand the Daily’s pop culture section The Dose and work with the staff to continue to improve the paper and content.

While she said this experience has been nerve-wracking and stressful, Bywater is excited for what the new semester will bring and what everyone on staff can accomplish.

“I also hope to really portray how important the Daily is for student journalists,” Bywater said. “Every journalist has to start somewhere, and I hope to help grow and support future journalists.”