North Texas Daily

Caitlyn Jones / Editor-in-Chief

People are asking those questions every graduate dreads. You know the ones. Relatives you only see on holidays asking, “What’re you going to do after graduation?,” “Where are you going to live?,” or the worst, “Do you have a job yet?”

I like to think I have some semblance of a plan to be able to answer these annoying inquiries, but there’s one unanswerable question that keeps popping up: Are you glad to be done with the Daily?

While I will be relieved to rid my hands of the ignorant tweets, minor mishaps (Pulverized? Really? What were we thinking?) and occasional angry calls, I will miss terribly the camaraderie, the wall of shame and the amazing learning experience my time with this publication has afforded me.

Moving up through the ranks has allowed me to observe all aspects of running a student newspaper and I’ve been given many opportunities because of my role at the Daily. The knowledge I gained here in the basement cannot be taught in a classroom and I’m fortunate the Mayborn School of Journalism has these outlets for students to learn in a hands-on environment that is completely our own. This newspaper molded me into a journalist and strengthened my love for my future profession.

This semester, the Daily grew. We bolstered discussion with our opinions, utilized social media for breaking news and launched a full entertainment section. This wouldn’t have been possible without a few people.

To anyone angered by our editorials:

Don’t expect an apology. Our editorials were written to engage you, to make you think, to spark conversation. You didn’t have to agree with them and we didn’t necessarily want you to. If the articles lit a fire under your belly to start talking about the issues presented, you are a product of the intended result.

Students, faculty and members of the community are always welcome to the conversation. Some, like Adam Hasley and Adam Alattry, engaged with letters to the editor and I thank you for that.  Some engaged by debating the rhetoric on social media and I thank you for that. Others were callous with obtuse tweets like, “The @ntdaily tries so hard to be relevant lol” or the frequent “Why don’t you guys name who authors your editorials?”

If you want to debate, come take a seat. If you want to insult, you’re not worth anyone’s time or effort.

To the Mayborn faculty:

Nothing we have accomplished this year would’ve been possible without the encouragement of some of our professors. Gary Ghioto and Junebug Clark sat with us religiously on Fridays to offer critique on the week’s content. Annette Nevins educated us on the placement of nut graphs and Neil Foote made us think about diversity in our publication. Tracy Everbach marked up copies of the paper in red ink and Meredith Clark gave us resources on editorial practices during election season. Kathie Hinnen delivered the cold, hard truth and Dean Bland provided constant support. I thank you all for that.

There are one or two on the faculty who chose to bash the newspaper on social media without offering anything constructive. You call yourselves educators, but educators are supposed to teach and mentor. Instead, you make this wonderful program look weak to prospective students and alumni alike by taking shots at the minds you claim to care about molding.

If you want to educate, come take a seat. If you want to insult, you’re not worth anyone’s time or effort.

To the North Texas Daily staff:

I would have lost my marbles if it were not for you. You all worked so hard this semester and I couldn’t have hired a better editorial board, one that listened to and respected each other’s ideas and opinions. That collaborative environment is something I hope to encounter in every newsroom I’m a part of. In the eloquent words of Vin Diesel, “The Daily doesn’t have friends. We got family.”

For the writers and photographers returning in the summer or fall, you have already grown by leaps and bounds. Your commitment to this publication shows your commitment to your craft. Hone it and always better it. For those not returning because of graduation or internships, I wish you the best with your future endeavors and hope this experience has prepared you well. For those not returning just because, thank you for your contribution and good luck with your blog.

Without further adieu, I leave my office in the capable hands of Edward Balusek and Nicholas Friedman. Your ideas and enthusiasm will push this paper to new heights. I look forward to watching with pride and sending you nasty texts if you screw up.

May the odds be ever in your favor.

Featured Image: From left to right: Nicholas Friedman – Features Editor, Caitlyn Jones – Editor-In-Chief, Edward Balusek- Visuals Editor. Edward Balusek will be the editor-in-chief for the summer term and Nicholas Friedman will be the editor-in-chief during the fall.