When I joined one of The Northerner’s Zoom meetings in the fall of 2020, I joined with an unclear purpose. “I am a journalism major, so I must work for the student newspaper,” I told myself at the time. I didn’t know what exactly I wanted to do other than write, nor was I a very good journalist then. My first contributor story for The Northerner was scrawled over with pink edits and choked in Google Docs comment bubbles. I didn’t know anybody on staff then, so suddenly showing my face in a (Zoom) room full of strangers was less than a comfortable experience.
In other words, it was one of the best decisions of my life.
Joining The Northerner forced me out of the dark, curtain-drawn corner I’d been in for most of my years, because joining The Northerner is synonymous with being a journalist. In order to write a story, I would need to gather information, and to gather information, I would need to interview people. Approaching a source for an interview is not the same as approaching a stranger at a party, of course: with the former you at least know what you’re doing and what you’re supposed to do, whereas the latter intimidates because you have to come up with words on the spot. But you cannot go anywhere without taking a first step.
If that first step has taught me anything, it’s that people are more approachable than one might think. They have something to say and want to be listened to. They want to tell their stories and share their views. During my time with The Northerner—and from there, other positions with other journalistic publications—I have had the chance to talk to incredible people with incredible stories.
A 70-year-old psychology major who attended in-person classes during the COVID-19 pandemic, after completing two bachelor’s degrees. A local champion for Latinos and bilingual understanding. A Ukrainian husband-and-wife pianist duo. A social work professor who speaks with all of her heart. An English professor who has been teaching at NKU since its founding, who professes a fascination with whales unlike anyone else. NKU students who participate in student government, who build intricate computer-controlled sensors, who advocate for bodily autonomy and trans rights. And that is only the NKU community, the students and faculty and staff that have, or had, direct connections to this colorful, troubled, promising institution.
Toward the end of my time at NKU, a significant amount of my output was overtaken by the budget deficit and the difficult decisions that followed. Being a journalist is not only about telling stories, though I maintain that telling stories that would otherwise go untold should be a priority. Practicing journalism also means staying on top of often stormy waters, helping others navigate the profusion and confusion of developments that can impact them. It means seeing aspects and connections that are not immediately obvious, but which enable holding those in power to account. I haven’t done very well in that regard, I admit—it’s something to keep in mind for improvement and deeper diving in the journey ahead.
My journey would not be a journey at all without the fantastic people at The Northerner, past and present. I have my sincerest gratitude to Rachel Smith, then co-News Editor at my time of joining, for her unfailing kindness and guidance when I was a newbie who barely knew how to write news. To Michele Day, possibly the most attentive journalism professor and faculty advisor there is. To Madison Plank and Matthew Dietz, Managing Editor and Editor-in-Chief respectively before my time in upper management, for entrusting me with responsibilities that I thought I didn’t deserve. To all of the journalism faculty and College of Informatics staff, whether they remember interacting with me or not, for laying the foundations for everything that I know about this field.
And of course, to my Northerner colleagues, soon to be former colleagues. Braden White, thank you for the long evening conversations and for all of the forwarded emails that have kept us on equal footing. Killian Baarlaer and Emily Sisk, thank you for the knowledge, insights and sheer commitment to what you do—you have taught me more about writing stories than you knew. Emory Davis, thank you for the awe-inspiring photos and wisdom in life. Sydney Bellm, thank you also for the gorgeous photos and the positivity you bring. Ysabel Cordova-Elias, thank you for enduring just how long I took to proofread the PDFs before we shipped them off to print.
Everyone else whom I haven’t had a chance to engage with, thank you for joining The Northerner. There was a time when we were fretting about having enough people to carry the work forward, now your contributions are keeping that worry at bay. I wish you all the best with the tasks ahead, and I hope you will gain something invaluable from this organization as I have.
Farewell for now. Should you happen to need my help with anything, I’ll be there.