Not long ago, I cleaned out the drawers of my new desk, expecting to find nothing but old newsprint and stained Styrofoam coffee cups.
In one drawer I found something worth keeping: perspective.
There, in a neat pile, were press passes of former News editors.
My eyes passed over the faces that smiled and even smirked back through the laminated covers. Some looked excited, some bored, some shy, others confident.
But reading their names and looking at their portraits only left me realizing that I have never heard of these students besides my former editor, and now editor-in-chief and friend, Anthony Pesce.
Even if I did hear of them, I definitely would not know what they were like and what goals they had as News editors.
I do not expect to be remembered by our college community years after I leave UCLA’s red brick pathways and towering halls.
You, as a reader of the Bruin, do not really know anything about me, and that is the point.
Please do not panic.
I’m not going for the whole “Wizard of Oz” persona, you know, the whole “Flash! Bang! “˜Pay no attention to that man behind the curtain!'”
What I will ask of you is that you pick up the paper on a routine basis and really get involved in the stories the Daily Bruin staff has to offer.
My aim is to deliver the news to readers while broadening the range of our coverage. I intend to serve you and mirror the conversations and thoughts flooding the UCLA community.
My dedicated staff will be there ”“ anywhere. That includes expanding our news beat system to incorporate as many facets of UCLA as possible.
I understand that you cannot be everywhere to experience what UCLA has to offer, but we can give you daily accounts so you will not be out of the loop. I believe my staff has diversity worthy of reflecting readers, and we will continue to grow to meet community needs.
Steps have already been taken to meet our goals. We have several award-winning student journalists overseas who will bring international topics to campus kiosks throughout the year.
Five experienced news reporters have returned to the Bruin this fall as assistant News editors. Each editor has been planning stories and multimedia projects that will inform and hopefully inspire readers to think and act about important issues.
Changes took place over the summer, while you have gone. The paper has a different but fresh look. You will see photos and well-developed graphics in full color on each front page of all our sections.
The News section will take part in a new Web site that will not only have a modern, user-friendly design but that will also have ways for readers to contribute to the reporting of news on campus.
With your future contributions, you can help our staff members understand campus interests better.
Please tell me if your concerns or needs have not been addressed. Send an e-mail, a fax or come by Kerckhoff 118 and tell me in person. Even better, join the Bruin staff.
Now, I hope to leave my future press pass in the pile because I understand what it takes to be a News editor, and I will work to create a newspaper that you can call your own.
Don’t feel bad if you don’t remember my name or my picture. I’ll only be another face with an awful millennium haircut that the next-generation News editor might gawk at.
Please remember the stories, or at least the ones that make a difference in your life.
Jo is the 2008-2009 News editor. E-mail her at sjo@media.ucla.edu.