Being the social media coordinator for The Scarlet & Black these last two years has felt a lot like being “Gossip Girl.” Hear me out — I’m anonymous, have sources all over town, and can send messages to the whole school with the press of a “post” button. XOXO!
I’m kidding — I could never write one-liners that sharp. But running S&B socials has given me a unique front-row seat to the good, the bad and the chaotic of student discourse.
Monitoring comment threads, DMs and story posts, in addition to indulging my nosy tendencies, has shown me how much Grinnellians care about their community. Not a Spencer Grill menu change or controversial op-ed goes undiscussed, and reading real-time reactions is one of the underrated treats of this role. People comment because something surprised them, outraged them or made them laugh. These reactions underscore the importance of a paper like The S&B, and actively help make it better.
Social media feedback often prompts writers to correct or clarify something, pursue an underreported story, or talk to a source who may have been overlooked. On a small staff like The S&B’s, mistakes and oversights are inevitable — feedback from student readers is integral, and it truly makes a difference. I hope S&B socials continue, and expand, their role as a way to incorporate reader voices and make the paper more representative of the student body.
Before I go, a brief thank you — when I first joined the paper, I was cautiously reentering the world of student journalism after experiencing burn out as a high school editor. The S&B staff welcomed me back with open arms and treated me as their journalistic equal — even though 90% of my job is making Canva graphics. It has been a privilege to play this role in amplifying the remarkable work of S&B reporters.
I also have to thank my socials partners-in-crime, Aaryan Lodaya `27 and Eliza Cline `27. You both lent me grace and perspective through every breaking news post and graphic-design freakout. I can’t wait to lurk on The S&B accounts next year and watch your work from afar.
And thank you, Grinnellians, for reminding us our work isn’t going into the void. Never forget that The S&B is your paper — your comments and feedback don’t go unheard. Keep it coming.
P.S. If you ever got a rogue Instagram story view from The S&B… it was me stalking you on the wrong account.
