By Michael Moore Jr.
Dear students,
Fall semester is upon us.
The dog days of summer are almost over, the new academic school year is set to begin and your local campus newspaper is back.
My name is Michael, and I’m the editor-in-chief of The Crow’s Nest, a paper written and edited by students for students.
I speak for all of the staff when I say that we’re incredibly excited to deliver the news to you over the course of the next year.
Some of you might not know me. I completed my associate of arts degree from State College of Florida and then had a brief stint studying literature and classics at New College of Florida in Sarasota before transferring to USF St. Petersburg.
But I grew bored of literature. I found it difficult to read about symbolism when there were real stories happening all around me that weren’t being told.
I’ve been a reporter all my life. It just took me a little longer to recognize it.
In fifth grade, it was singing the lunch menu items during the school’s morning news segment; today, it’s informing the student body about the latest happenings on campus.
A few fun facts about me: I’m a trivia geek and national quiz bowl champion, a craft beer enthusiast, a black belt in taekwondo and an obsessive sports fan —especially when it comes to combat sports.
But here’s the only thing you really need to know about me: I have a fierce love for journalism and am dedicated to bringing you the news that you need and deserve.
I spent the summer interning for my hometown paper, the Bradenton Herald. There I braved the winds of a tropical storm, chased a fire at a tire factory and spent a few 15 hour days covering a murder trial. All of this prepared me to be your campus newspaper’s editor.
But it’s not just me: I am so proud of this year’s staff. We have a team of editors, reporters and staff members that are poised and capable of giving you the best product possible.
Our team has worked tirelessly over the summer to ensure that your campus paper is the best it can be.
So, what can you expect from this year?
For starters, a stronger digital presence. We aren’t just your school newspaper, we are your source for all things happening on or around campus. While our weekly print publication will always remain central to what The Crow’s Nest is, we are constantly evolving. This year, you can expect videos, audio and more.
We will also be rolling out a different news cycle —one that not only features the weekly stories in print that you’ve grown accustomed to for nearly 50 years, but one that will see smaller, daily online stories, bringing news to you in a more timely manner.
We aim to be more interactive. Here at The Crow’s Nest, we value your feedback. We don’t just want to give you the news —we want to know what you think about it. As such, we aim to provide you with more opportunities for things like letters to the editors, guest columns and social media engagement.
Expect to see a lot of changes in this paper over the next year. One thing that won’t change, however, is our commitment to bringing you the information that is important. With your help, we will always do our best to be the campus newspaper that you deserve.
If you have an event you want covered or know of an issue around campus that should be highlighted, come see us on the second floor of the Student Life Center in room 2400 or contact us via e-mail at usfcrowsnest@gmail.com. For those interested in writing for us, feel free to come to one of our contributor meetings, held Tuesdays at 4:00 p.m. Our office is always open to you, our readers.
Sincerely,
Michael Moore Jr.
