I understand the future of the print edition of The S&B is in question. I’m writing to voice my strong support for continuing to publish a physical newspaper. The “dead tree” edition of The S&B benefits current students, the wider community and the student journalists themselves.
As a working journalist for more than 30 years, I understand the digital transformation of the news industry. The S&B has innovated and kept up through its website, e-newsletters and social media. Yet each time I’m back on campus for Alumni Council meetings, I see students reading copies of The S&B in the Spencer Grill. Students have a chance to discover their campus paper because it’s easily accessible and prominent when stacks of print copies show up on campus each Monday morning. I’m told the 425 printed papers go quickly.
In a time when “Belonging & Connection” have been identified as a key part of the strategic plan, The S&B is a vital forum for students to engage and learn what’s going on on campus. The physical paper also serves as a way to tap into the Grinnell spirit for prospective students, returning alumni, community members and others who may not know to seek out The S&B online.
S&B staff gain valuable experience laying out a paper rather than working for a digital-only publication. Doing away with the print version and producing layouts that would only be seen as PDFs online seem unlikely to be worth the bother.
The S&B won Iowa College newspaper of the year earlier this year. They’ve achieved impressive results — at a college with no journalism program! As an alumna, I’m proud of these student journalists and hope the student activities budget can find other places to trim than a plucky print edition that continues to be relevant in 2024.
Respectfully,
Sasha Aslanian `90
Brooklyn, NY
Alumni Council Member
Parent of `26 Grinnellian
Former S&B writer
