What a run it has been. When I started out as a sports writer for The Rotunda in 2012, I never could have imagined my final year would have been this special.
I made the jump to news last spring and never looked back. I am extremely proud of the topics we have covered this past year and the overall excellent reporting we have printed.
This year has been a wild one for news pertaining to Longwood, perhaps unlike any other. From troubles involving certain student-athletes, the strides Longwood has made with Title IX, the rape kit saga, norovirus outbreak, hate speech concerns, the university’s ongoing unsealed deal with the Moton Museum and the heartbreaking stories of Riley and AJ, this year has no doubt been frenetic.
We have made unprecedented strides as a staff this past year. Our social media presence is at an all-time high, and people look to The Rotunda for information on key issues.
The Rotunda has broken major stories a ton of times this past year, reported on tough topics and built relationships with key sources in and around the Farmville area.
People now care what The Rotunda has to say, something that probably hasn’t always been true.
We grew our Twitter presence by hundreds of followers, and our Facebook page now has over 2,300 likes. Our website is a go-to for many people in the community and now sees thousands of views per month.
As this senior class leaves campus, the hard work starts for the next group, carrying the progress forward. I know Tori, Bri and other news staff will do their job to the best of their abilities and hold each other to the same standard that has been established. Just have confidence in yourself and don’t be afraid to ask hard, thought provoking questions.
The Rotunda now has a vital responsibility to respond quickly and effectively to situations in the community and offer intelligence on topics people might be ignorant to.
The Rotunda must be a watchdog not only over Longwood University, but the Farmville area as well.
When I look back on my time with The Rotunda, I will always remember it for the learning experiences. We jump into journalism, one of the hardest things to do well, and often do it well. We stay up late hours every Tuesday night to put out a good product, and we learn and grow together as a team.
I think The Rotunda has grasped its role in the community, especially over the past year, and I hope to see it continue to grow and break major news stories.
I have faith in The Rotunda, it will continue to be a vessel for information and tell the truth early and often.
