My column is about articles that appear in our very own East Tennessean, the very publication of which I am an employee.
Now, I’m not sure how you feel about the paper. Frankly I don’t care. Maybe we have good or bad reporting. But you can’t deny the fact that we give you what you, want to read.
For example, I was told that the East Tennessean prints stuff that nobody wants to read. This was the comment from a girl who was reading the last issue.
I was asking her what the article was that was so un-newsworthy, and she so politely pointed out the article by our faithful employee Robert Carver on the soundtrack to Little Nicky.
I think the girl knows who she is, but no hard feelings out there, I just needed a good example.
There are others who don’t realize, when they say that a newspaper’s stories are unworthy to be printed, that they are insulting the staff’s opinion of what is “news.”
Being a curious little reporter, I offer a question to decipher what the campus public wants to read.
A popular reply would be the horoscopes.
Oh, good answer. Let’s read something that is of no worldly value whatsoever.
Of course, I sometimes read the horoscope in the bigger, more well-respected newspapers such as the Johnson City Press, which is run by actual professional writers and editors who have had years of experience writing for the same newspaper.
Also, they have subscription rates that support their income. Sometimes, I like to read the horoscopes in the USA Today.
Let’s take a closer look at what last issue of the East Tennessean offered you worthy readers.
On the front page of the newspaper, we have two of the most important issues that face you and I as college students. Our SGA is having problems with the student discount cards. I know I haven’t received mine.
Also, on the front page, there is a story on the presidential votes hanging in the balance. If those two items didn’t catch your attention, you have no idea what is important to you.
You could definitely overlook the SGA story. I’ll support you in your yawn. But you should have at least taken into consideration the election story.
We have our usual briefs on the second page, along with a list of activities for the next week ahead, for those of you who say that there is nothing to do on campus.
I will understand if you choose to look over the Viewpoint section because it is an opinion section after all.
But apparently people’s opinions do count.
For example, my article on PDA has raised an overwhelming amount of `right -ons.’ But the article was in the Lifestyles section.
Speaking of which, we have offered to us an article on the area’s dye industry, and we are informed Jewel has a new book out -awwwwriiight!
I wonder how many Jewel-struck guys are interested in that story. In addition, we also have our article about the soundtrack to Sandler’s new movie and an article on The Ladies Man.
The Sports section has remained constant and unchanging. We have always had the latest scores and information in every issue.
So what have we not offered you? We haven’t padded the newspaper with fluff and useless information.
Our campus newspaper has been printed and published for you as college students to be aware of the current events happening on campus to you as a campus- dweller.
Next time that you assume there is nothing to read in the newspaper, think twice.
There may be something educational, entertaining, or informative for you.

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