Letter from the Editor

by Alyssa Storm, 2022 Mass Media Messenger Editor-in-Chief

As I write this letter, I wonder if we will ever return to life as it was before COVID-19. I’ve had a different college experience than many alumni, but I am thankful that I have still been able to take hands-on classes in an online mode and still learn something from them, which is more than I can say for many of my peers.

I am grateful that this Messenger class has had the ability to gather and create some memories as we work around the tables in Henderson 7. We have new computers in the lab this year, but don’t be too jealous -- Adobe still likes to take its own sweet time opening files. I know most of you reading have been a part of the production of the Mass Media Messenger in one way or another and can relate to the amount of demanding attention the department needs from us. Let me just say it has not gotten any easier. Being able to sit in a classroom and work collaboratively is a luxury I didn’t understand until it was taken away. Getting to share a laugh while designing a spread or arguing about AP style until we inevitably turn to Google is good amidst the incredible chaos which creates this magazine. The Department of Mass Media does a great job of preparing its students for the real world. I’ve had the added benefit of serving as editor-in-chief of the Washburn Review, which now exists in website and email newsletter formats. Having the ability to apply what I’ve learned in classes into the Student Media office that same day has helped me not only grow in my position, but I have gained a new appreciation for my mass media classes. In another year, I, too, will join the legacy of alumni in our department. I want to encourage you all to stay in touch and come back to campus when you can. Alumni make terrific guest speakers, and we especially love to hear your stories either at the Keynote Speaker Event or at the WIFI Film Festival. The involvement from the alumni in our various events means a great deal to the department, faculty and students. We appreciate your generosity and continuous support throughout the year and hope that you enjoy this newest issue of the Messenger.