INFORMING THE BALDWIN WALLACE UNIVERSITY AND BEREA COMMUNITIES IN PRINT SINCE 1913...
INFORMING THE BALDWIN WALLACE UNIVERSITY AND BEREA COMMUNITIES SINCE 1913
JANUARY 24, 2024
since 1913
the
BWEXPONENT.com
print edition
vol. 109 no. vi
...AND WE WANT TO KEEP IT THAT WAY As the art director for The Exponent, the vast majority of my job at the paper is to work on the
As print circulation has continued to fall nationally year after year, The
design of the print editions. This involves coming into the newsroom around 9 a.m. on a Saturday
Exponent has defied these expectations, often leaving us to consider how to
morning and working in front of my computer until late in the evening (or, sometimes the morning
best balance the emphasis we should place on our digital versus printable
of the next day). Having left Loomis 185 (where our newsroom is located) at 2, 3, and even 4 a.m. on
news product. While we have seen success through our digital platforms,
deadline days, I know how hard The Exponent team works on the print editions. However, it is not
the value of producing a printed newspaper is one that should not so easily
the quality of our (multiple award-winning-at-the-national-level) paper that is under debate. The
be forgotten.
financial responsibility, however, is.
It is difficult to find outlets that allow us to escape from the hectic digital
Last week, the executive board met with the university administrators. We were asked to work on
world that has consumed our daily lives. Many of our peers have relayed
reducing the vendor print cost, whether that be through re-negotiating our print contract, increasing ad
to us that picking up one of our print issues has become that digital detox
sales, working with donors to support the cost or other various means that we could find. Independent
they crave, providing a break from their rigorous school schedule without
of the University, we have been working to increase the business operations of our organization for
plugging right back into the digitial world through their cell phones.
the past two years, so these asks are not new ideas.
The Exponent consistently finds less than 100 copies of our print issues
The administration kindly assisted us in exploring options that we had not yet begun to work
sprawled across our newsstand locations in Berea when we look to replace
on. However, they have neither provided us with specific instructions nor a tangible timeline for an
them with 1,000 more of a new issue, a sign that the print issue is being
official university decision regarding our funding.
well received in our community — not just on campus. The connectivity a
They have not provided us with a savings goal but have told us that they will continue to “support”
physical issue brings is not to be underestimated.
our print editions. It was not clear if that meant through financial means or otherwise. We are grateful
Local print provides the opportunity to deal firsthand with the issues
for the assistance they have provided us thus far, and we hope that by sharing this information, we
as they impact those around you and provides visibility to issues that may
can maintain our legacy of transparency with the University, the greater BW community, Berea and
have otherwise been overlooked. Searching for an issue online makes the
Greater Cleveland and most importantly, our beloved readers.
local angle news story become one in a million amongst your networks’
As members of an academic entity of the University, we are used to working in a professional
busy algorithms.
capacity within the University and with external organizations. But at what point do we cease to be
One location that is always out of copies is Generations of Senior Living
students and start to be employees of the University? At what point does responsibility shift to the
Home Berea, our favorite location to deliver newspapers. Every time we
administration? Are we, as students, solely responsible for the 111-year legacy of The Exponent? Or
deliver newspapers to their facility, we already see the residents speaking to
is the administration responsible for upholding it as well?
each other about the topics we covered in that issue. Seeing our work have
I don’t have the answers to these questions, but neither does the University. So, at this point, all
this type of impact is what really matters. Our aim is to provide a sense of
I can do is focus on what I have control over. Designing an impactful paper with my team for the
community engagement to people who seek to stay connected — in print
consumption of you, my dear readers, is my top priority. The stories in this issue, as in every issue, are
and online.
important. Our stories aim to include as many voices as possible to ensure that the truth lies somewhere within our pages. I hope I can continue to amplify these truths to you through straightforward and unique visuals that you can continue to hold in your hands every other week.
One resident of Generations of Berea, Dorothy Purdy, is a life-long Berea resident and subsequent life-long enjoyer of our print edition. “Many, many years, I’ve lived here, and I’ve enjoyed the print news,”
If you are willing and able, please visit bwexponent.com/donate to help us continue to deliver our
Purdy said. “I want to keep it coming. My grandchildren went to BW. It’s a
print edition. We, along with many BW students, alumni, parents, local journalists, local businesses
great community and I want to know everything about it, and the printed
and Berea residents, will forever be grateful for your faithful support in The Exponent.
Exponent is the best way to find out about it.”
– ALEXIS WATKINS Art Director
– SIMON SKOUTAS, HANNAH WETMORE AND SUNAINA KABADKAR Executive Editorial Board