Sacred Heart University’s student-run newspaper, The Spectrum, was ranked No. 14 by The Princeton Review for “Best College Newspaper” on Aug. 18.
Contributed by Sacred Heart University
Listed among colleges like Columbia University and Princeton University, this national recognition reflects the dedication and hard work of the university’s past and current newspaper staff.
“I know how much work it takes to take a story from our pitch meetings to print, and I feel a real sense of pride in the work that we do,” said Moira Staples, Spectrum’s former co-managing editor. “It feels pretty incredible to have that work acknowledged.”
The Spectrum, founded in 1983, publishes articles weekly in print and online. The paper covers topics in news, sports, arts and entertainment, features and campus life.
“We mix it up between campus news and national news,” said George Triebenbacher, Spectrum’s former editor-in-chief. “I feel like that gives us a different perspective than some other schools.”
Undergraduate students can get involved in the paper as staff writers by taking CM 211 Spectrum Campus News Production class with Prof. Joanne Kabak. Under her instruction, they learn to conduct interviews, write in AP style, meet deadlines and most importantly, tell stories.
“I wasn’t just learning how to put words on paper,” said Shannon Tuttle, Spectrum’s former co-managing editor. “I learned how to take an idea and turn it into a story, and that’s what all news is about.”
Once students have mastered the craft of news writing, they can apply to become editors. Editors pitch topics, work collaboratively as a team and mentor students taking CM 211.
“Being able to watch the staff writers grow each semester is awesome, and every editor is so encouraging,” said Dan Greene, Spectrum’s former news editor.
Despite the extra time commitment, editors enjoy sharing their latest story ideas each week, and faculty advisor Kabak looks forward to hearing them.
“One of the fun parts is learning unexpected information from the students,” said Kabak. “Even if a topic sounds off the wall, listen to why they choose it and trust that it could just be the next big thing.”
Students can also contribute to the paper’s two support sections: photography and public relations.
“Even if writing isn’t your top choice, there’s still a lot of ways to get involved between photography, PR and circulation,” said Triebenbacher. “There’s something for everyone in the paper.”
The Spectrum’s ranking is not only the result of the newspaper staff’s work, but also the widespread support of the university community.
“Writers who are just learning the craft contact professors, administrators, students, alumni and others to do interviews,” said Kabak. “And they respond!”
These interviews give students the opportunity to connect more deeply with faculty, staff and their classmates than the average student.
“You can meet with deans and administrators that want to share what is going on around campus,” said Greene. “It also pushes you to attend events where you can learn about people, what they’re studying and how they are applying that in the world.”
The skills learned from writing for The Spectrum translate well into the real world, with previous editors attributing their professional success to the paper.
“I’m a production assistant working for NBC Sports,” said Tuttle. “And everything that we do is storytelling, and I really credit a lot of it to The Spectrum.”
As The Spectrum continues to evolve, it is never too late to get involved.
“Whether you work as a writer, photographer, or editor, being a part of Spectrum allows you to be involved in something bigger than yourself,” said Staples.
