Each week while classes are in session, students meet Sunday evenings to plan the newspapers next issue. Story ideas are discussed for each section – news, features and sports. An editorial presenting the collective opinion of the newspaper’s editorial board is decided upon, usually after discussing stories presented in the last issue. Photos are discussed to accompany text presentations, along wi
th an editorial page cartoon and a question asked students in a speak your piece feature. Students who attend the meeting as writers are assigned stories and section editors coordinate their stories with the photography editor. Students work on their stories during the week, producing copy for a Friday afternoon meeting of all editors and copy editors. Stories are edited by up to five editors and read and edited by the newspaper’s adviser. Headline orders are generated by section editors to fit their layout plans and copy editors help write the headlines. The final product is sent to the printer over the weekend and 2,000 copies of the eight-page paper are delivered from the printer Tuesday afternoons for distribution Tuesday evening and Wednesday. Rough surveys of students show that 80 to 90 percent of all students read the newspaper. Any complaints or concerns regarding the newspaper are heard and handled by the chief editors. The adviser steps in only when editors cannot resolve issues. The faculty adviser has no key for the office door and serves to advise student leaders when issues arise. Generally, if a student wants to be a leader at the newspaper and they have the skills judged adequate by other student leaders, they can serve in leadership positions. Because Pitt-Johnstown is a relatively small school with 2,850 students, opportunities are available that are not possible at bigger universities. More experienced students at the newspaper always are willing to help newcomers and the adviser is available to teach and explain professional practice.
