Opinions

You’ve read our articles, you’ve seen our photos and you’ve picked up the product of our hard work every other week. You knew us as staff members, but allow us to reintroduce ourselves. We are the 2008-2009 editorial board.

As the new editorial board, we would like to reaffirm our goal of informing the student body and our position as the link between the students and outside parties involved in the Stuyvesant community. We plan to continue The Spectator’s traditions and objectives, but also wish to make our own improvements to the paper.

In order to fulfill our responsibility as “the pulse of the student body,” we must report on the facts. Our job is not to escalate or diffuse conflicts, but to simply report on and raise awareness about school issues as a neutral party. Students, parents and faculty members should feel comfortable talking to The Spectator and know that their views will be represented fairly and accurately. Our paper cannot be successful if all parties do not represent themselves in the paper.

In order to improve communication and avoid misunderstandings, we are creating a standardized interviewing handbook that will ensure interviews are properly conducted. Every reporter represents The Spectator and we want our staff to be respectful and accurate when interviewing. We will continue to uphold a high standard of journalism.

We are working towards expanding our Web site to provide photo galleries, slideshows, video clips and other multimedia not possible with traditional print media. Our Web site will also have expanded archives of past issues and will be updated to allow for comments. We encourage everyone to voice their opinions. Responses to articles and letters to the editor are always welcome.

As the old editorial board hands over control of the paper to us, we would like to thank the outgoing editors for all the work they put into The Spectator. We will continue to improve the paper and make sure it continues to be “the pulse of the student body.”