Column: Why Student Media Matters

On Sept. 6, a homicide suspect escaped from George Washington University Hospital in Washington, D.C. The escape caused the university to issue a shelter in place order while the initial manhunt was conducted. As of Sept. 19, the suspect is still at large. 

The escape itself is barely worth mentioning. It didn’t make national news and only merited a few articles from local outlets. I bring it up because coverage of the incident by GW’s student newspaper, The GW Hatchet, perfectly illustrates why student media is still relevant and important. 

From the moment the first alert was issued, The Hatchet began reporting. Their tweet about the alert beat out the alert system’s tweet by about four minutes. As the day went on, The Hatchet continued to provide live updates both on X, formerly known as Twitter, and on their website. 

What makes The Hatchet’s coverage important is the outsized impact the incident had on students and faculty at GW when compared to the rest of Washington. In addition to monitoring media coverage, I reached out to a few friends in the area, some of whom didn’t even know what I was talking about. 

So while the wider Washington area wasn’t as affected, it would be harder for GW students to see this story and not have a personal connection to it.

More broadly, stories like this can be found in student newspapers across the country.  Given the size and demographics of a college campus, it’s clear there is a need for dedicated reporting. Yet since the community is hyperspecific, the need can’t be met by anyone but students. 

Even in cities with outlets like Block Club Chicago who center their coverage around individual neighborhoods, traditional newspapers don’t have a prerogative to cover every major story that occurs on a college campus. A student paper does. 

While I brought up the example from The Hatchet, there are plenty of examples of this type of work from The Phoenix. Some of the recent stories we’ve published include an investigation into an overdose on campus, a feature on resilience through art on Loyola’s campus, and a Loyola soccer player’s advocacy for Alopecia awareness.

These stories matter to the limited population The Phoenix primarily serves — Loyola University Chicago. 

Student newspapers don’t just serve the community by providing news, they also help develop  journalists themselves. A student newspaper is where a young reporter learns how to do the job. It’s a stepping stone that allows you to develop your writing abilities and explore the field. 

Sure, every journalist secretly dreams about being Woodward or Bernstein but even legends need to start somewhere. These student papers are where many reporters first go to start their careers. It allows them a chance to learn in an environment where the stakes aren’t as high as in a traditional newsroom. Without them, young journalists may not get the mentorship or experience they desperately need in order to advance in a highly competitive field. 

Whether it’s the development of student reporters or covering news other outlets don’t cover, the student newspaper still serves an important role on college campuses. This isn’t an ad to join or read the paper. I just hope when you see a student newspaper online or in stands — like The Phoenix — you understand there’s a reason it exists beyond just putting our names in print.

Feature image by Aidan Cahill / The Phoenix